15:50 Leicester

Tuesday 23 January 2018

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:20

Humberstone Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 4m 12.00s

Stonecoldsoba²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D P Quinn| OR: 112| D

25/1

Was in good form on good ground last summer, winning at Worcester (2m4f) and Uttoxeter (2m) in quick succession. Handicapper has been in control since then. Should be capable of better than we have seen but does have that to prove.

Form: 31187U

Crafty Roberto^t⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 108

2/1

Remains a chasing maiden after 20 attempts. Went very close to breaking that duck when beaten a head at Plumpton in October, but that got him a nudge up the weights now back over hurdles, where he is slightly better, he is not ruled out.

Form: 2722-26

Catchin Time^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: L Hurley| OR: 107| CD

12/1

Six-time hurdle winner at around this trip and mainly on testing ground. Has a C&D win to his name and although 2lb higher than his best winning mark, he still looks to have the ability to be very competitive in a race like this.

Form: 1143-54

Sneaking Budge²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 107| D

6/1

Sole success came in a juvenile hurdle at Sandown (2m, heavy) two years ago. Well held in handicaps so far, but now 13lb lower than his initial mark and he could come into this more today.

Form: 81/P-45

Delface^b,t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 105| D

15/2

Backed up a Wexford maiden hurdle win (soft/heavy) over this trip with success on his stable debut at Ffos Las in May. Shaped better last time in handicap company than he had on his first three attempts and from 2lb lower he could have a say.

Form: 1-17966

Marmont⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 99

15/2

Placed in four of his nine hurdles without yet winning. Beaten 30L on his first try on heavy ground at Fontwell last time, which is a concern, though he handles soft. Already held several times from this mark, so has a bit to find.

Form: 682833

Cold Shoulder²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 107

12/1

Made the frame, albeit it beaten 31L, in a Fontwell juvenile hurdle (2m1½f, heavy) last month and couldn't better that back there on Boxing Day. Marks looks no more than fair for handicap debut, but market check suggested nonetheless.

Form: 535

Ring Eye⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: S-J Davies| OR: 88| D

16/1

His only two wins from 40 starts were on the Flat, though he has made the frame in 3-5 hurdles, including when 20L third at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) last time. Drops 6lb but unproven on the ground and others make more appeal.

Form: 338/U63

Georgieshore^h³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 87| BF

10/3

A Lingfield maiden hurdle win (2m3½f, heavy) remains the only one in 20 starts for this gelding, who was a 9L third at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) last time. Drops 1lb going into this and also back in trip and not ruled out of the prizes.

Form: P75P-43

Luca Brazi⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: A Sadik| OR: 69

66/1

Well beaten in all nine starts under rules and goes into this 14lb out of the handicap. Impossible to recommend him.

Form: 54PP76

Forecasts

Crafty Roberto (2/1), Georgieshore (10/3), Sneaking Budge (6/1), Delface (15/2), Marmont (15/2), Cold Shoulder (12/1), Catchin Time (12/1), Ring Eye (16/1), Stonecoldsoba (25/1), Luca Brazi (66/1)

Crafty Roberto and Catchin Time both look to be on marks that suggest that they can be very competitive in this, while Sneaking Budge and Georgieshore are others who could come into it. However, David Pipe-trained DELFACE has conditions to suit and has not slipped to an eyecatching handicap mark, so he is the suggestion.