14:35 Warwick

Thursday 25 January 2018

All12:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Racing UK Free For A Month Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 6m 43.4s

Eminent Poet¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135

20/1

Won a similar event at Haydock (2m7f, heavy) from 3lb lower in December and not far off that form at Chepstow last time in a better race than this. WIll have to be at his best to defy top weight from this mark, but enters calculations.

Form: 13-9513

Crucial Role⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 125

11/8

Was in improver last year and won on first start of 2018 in a 0-125 at Ludlow (3m, soft) by 13L last week. Carries a penalty for that and champion jockey now gets the leg up, so short-listed for the follow-up attempt upped in grade.

Form: P14221

Polydora³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Lacey| OR: 130

12/1

Has improved since going hurdling, winning a maiden at Chepstow (2m3½f, good to soft) and then a novices' contest under a penalty at Exeter (2m7f, soft). Mark looks stiff enough for handicap debut but going right way and not ruled out.

Form: U/57-161

Fingerontheswitch^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 127

16/1

Handles soft ground, though winning form has been on no worse than good to soft. Handicapper has has his measure since winning at Wetherby a year ago and beaten twice from this mark over hurdles lately. Each-way claims.

Form: 5P-P262

Beneagles^v⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 126| BF

5/1

Won a Huntingdon maiden hurdle (3m1f, good to soft) in March. Has not added to that, but has been keeping good company of late and the handicapper has now eased him 1lb. That may not be enough today, though may get closer in this grade.

Form: 2215-35

Late Shipment^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 122| D

20/1

Won three races out of four in the early part of last year, all at Hereford over 3m1½f, including on soft and heavy. Held by the handicapper this term, but 3lb drop brings him into this again.

Form: 3112-74

King Uther^v³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 114

15/2

Lingfield maiden hurdle winner (2m3½f, heavy) in March and ran well in a Uttoxeter handicap (2m7½f, soft) when a 5L third last time. From the same mark today he is entitled to enter calculations.

Form: F531-43

Allthegear No Idea³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

25/1

Handles testing ground and stays 3m2½f. Consistent in making the frame in six of his last seven starts, all over fences, and now switches back to hurdles. CV suggests that he has frame claims again.

Form: 233-352

Itsnonofurbusiness^p⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 103

5/1

Point-to-point winner who took his time to run into form under rules, but obliged at 16-1 last time out when tried in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2m7f, soft). Extra 3f could help him improve enough to defy 7lb penalty.

Form: 18-7981

Forecasts

Crucial Role (11/8), Itsnonofurbusiness (5/1), Beneagles (5/1), King Uther (15/2), Polydora (12/1), Fingerontheswitch (16/1), Eminent Poet (20/1), Late Shipment (20/1), Allthegear No Idea (25/1)

Eminent Poet is the class horse in the field and merits plenty of respect in this grade, though there are one or two involved who could push him all the way. One of those is CRUCIAL ROLE, who is upped in grade after an impressive win at Ludlow last time. The booking of Richard Johnson suggests that there is some confidence in his chance of following-up. Polydora, King Uther and Beneagles are all interesting, while Itsnonofurbusiness came good last time and he looks a danger, especially over this even longer trip.