16:35 Towcester

Thursday 8 February 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:35

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Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 6m 45.50s

Basford Ben^b⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 99| D

8/1

Far better known as a chaser he returns to hurdles after a typically quirky display here last time out. Had taken advantage of a lenient mark and an aggressive ride at Huntingdon the time before but faces a 7lb higher mark here and he isn't one to trust.

Form: 5P671P

Fearsome Fred³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Dave Crosse| T: Dr J R J Naylor| OR: 92

7/1

Twice shown some ability in handicap hurdles with his best run coming over 3m at Taunton on his penultimate start off a 2lb lower mark. Failed to build on that run though under testing conditions last time out and it may well be a sounder surface will suit him better.

Form: 774-723

Gonnabegood^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 89

5/2

Quickly returned to hurdles after a considerate chasing debut having shown improved form to win a weak Exeter handicap hurdle (0-100). Actually showed comparable form when finishing second to an unexposed sort next time out and may still have some scope off this mark.

Form: 8P-412P

Special Princess⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Mike Hammond| OR: 84| D

25/1

Back from a long time off the track and now running for a new yard having previously run in Ireland showing modest form in handicap hurdles. May well need the race here and looks best watched for now given the time off the track.

Form: 3454-2P

Brother Norphin¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 80

11/2

Strong in the betting when returning from a 10 month break for this yard at Fontwell with the two that beat him looking relatively well treated on some of their form. Failed to match that form next time out however when well beaten at Plumpton; chance but does need to bounce back.

Form: P805-36

Silent Doctor^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: A Phillips| OR: 75

7/2

Finished 4th here in a similar event earlier in the month with the addition of first-time cheekpieces and more positive tactics looking to be a positive. Left on the same mark for that effort he's hard to rule out of this if he repeats that run.

Form: 6/P00-84

Right On Roy²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 74

14/1

Well held on the majority of his bumper/hurdles runs when with Martin Keighley it was much the same story on his first outing for this new yard at Ludlow last time. Lost his place around halfway and finished tailed off and hard to recommend here.

Form: 0P6P2/0

Dirty Dexter^b1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 69

9/2

Poor maiden hurdler who has only one weak handicap effort to show for four efforts in this sphere. That effort on his penultimate start made him a 5/1 shot last time but he reverted to type and was pulled-up.

Form: 07P-P4P

Passing Fiesta¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: T J Phelan| T: S-J Davies| OR: 65

50/1

There has been no show of any concrete form for a long time now and he continues to show very little and it's no hard to pass him over for consideration here.

Form: PP5FP5

Forecasts

Gonnabegood (5/2), Silent Doctor (7/2), Dirty Dexter (9/2), Brother Norphin (11/2), Fearsome Fred (7/1), Basford Ben (8/1), Right On Roy (14/1), Special Princess (25/1), Passing Fiesta (50/1)

A low-key end to the card with it hard to fashion a case for many of these and there are plenty of inconsistent types in the field. It may be significant that Jeremy Scott switches back GONNABEGOOD very quickly from his debut chasing effort having put up to very creditable efforts in this sort of race. Brother Norphin should be able to be competitive in this sphere but he does need to bounce back from a poor run and Silent Doctor may be the biggest danger having run well here last time. Fearsome Fred might just prefer a sounder surface to show his best while Basford Ben would be dangerous if he was on a going day although those are few and far between these days.