15:50 Warwick

Saturday 10 February 2018

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:50

John Lockley 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 7m 6.29s

Sir Will^p,t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 119

5/1

Broke his maiden over hurdles when victorious on heavy ground over an extended 2m7f at Uttoxeter at the end of December. Held in handicaps off lower marks in the past.

Form: 444-5F1

Master Of Verse²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119

66/1

Sole victory over hurdles came for Willie Mullins on yielding ground at Fairyhouse in April 2016. Disappointing in two outings over fences since joining this yard and more needed upped markedly in trip on his return to hurdling.

Form: P4655P

Falcons Fall^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 117

50/1

Winner of a Chepstow novice handicap contest over an extended 2m7f 11 months ago. Struggled since and reverts to hurdles with cheekpieces tried for the first time having pulled up on chase debut at Doncaster last month.

Form: 431-P9P

Just A Thought²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 117

11/4

Dual bumper winner and respectable efforts in all four outings over hurdles. Third over an extended 2m4f at Newbury (soft) last time out and making her handicap debut having placed over this C&D in the past.

Form: 13-2223

Laval Noir^p1⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 115

9/2

Made a winning handicap debut over 3m1f at Huntingdon (good-to-soft) last time out. Raised 5lb for that success and wears cheekpieces for the first time today.

Form: 1/5-671

Flashjack³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 114| CD

4/1

Following up a C&D win on heavy ground here in December when dead-heating for first in a 3m Ludlow (soft) handicap hurdle a month ago. Races off a mark 10lb higher than for those successes today.

Form: P5P-411

Triopas²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 111| BF

8/1

Winner of his last two starts over hurdles including over an extended 3m1f at Catterick (good-to-soft) in December. Beaten favourite over fences subsequently and one to note on his return to hurdling.

Form: 131113

Fille Des Champs^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 107| BF

20/1

Handicap hurdle winner at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) in December 2016 and put in some decent efforts since including when 7L second at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) last timeout. Tackling this trip for the first time today.

Form: 34-2542

Boher Lad²⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 107

33/1

Dual handicap hurdle over 3m at Southwell in early 2017. Fair efforts on good ground twice subsequently but probably best watched on his first outing since last spring.

Form: 21F13-4

Minella Gathering⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 98| BF

14/1

In decent form this season winning at Fakenham over an extended 2m7f and placing over the same C&D subsequently. This looks tougher and he races off a mark 6lb higher than for his most recent victory.

Form: 5-38212

Definately Vinnie⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: Miss Jane Mathias| OR: 96| D

13/2

Broke his duck when winning a maiden hurdle at Hereford (good) over an extended 3m1f in November. Held by Flashjack on running over C&D the following month however.

Form: 73-4312

Forecasts

Just A Thought (11/4), Flashjack (4/1), Laval Noir (9/2), Sir Will (5/1), Definately Vinnie (13/2), Triopas (8/1), Minella Gathering (14/1), Fille Des Champs (20/1), Boher Lad (33/1), Falcons Fall (50/1), Master Of Verse (66/1)

The Tom Lacey-trained TRIOPAS was chasing a fourth consecutive success when tasting defeat dropping in trip for his chasing debut last time out but he can register a fifth victory over hurdles with a greater emphasis on stamina today. The selection has won on soft ground in the past and having not been beaten far over an inadequate trip last time out he can get the better of Laval Noir who appeared to improve for the step up in trip when winning last time out while Flashjack, another to have won over staying trips in recent times can take third.