13:40 Wincanton

Saturday 17 February 2018

All13:4014:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Betway Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 49.9s

Stolberg^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: D L Williams| OR: 107

9/1

Returned to form when winning on heavy ground over an extended 2m3f at Lingfield last time out. Races off a 7lb higher mark today and has won over further in the past.

Form: 0-007F1

Timeforben^t1⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 106WS

12/1

Disappointing since finishing third over hurdles at Exeter in November. Had a wind operation since her last outing and wears a tongue tie for the first time upped in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 1-3306

The Flame^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 105| BF

10/1

Fair third in a novice hurdle at Stratford (good) in November but held on handicap debut last time out. Remains open to improvement however and interesting to see how she fares today.

Form: 12-7836

Goodgirlteresa^t⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 105

7/1

Point-to-point winner and ran well to finish runner-up on handicap debut at Worcester (2m4f, soft) on her second outing for this yard in November. Absent since and interesting off a 2lb higher mark.

Form: 25937-2

Jully Les Buxy¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: Nick Mitchell| OR: 104| BF| D

9/2

Heavy ground handicap hurdle winner over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton on debut for this yard last month. Decent effort in finishing fourth over 3m1f there since and she is an interesting runner today.

Form: 432/0-14

Neetside^t1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 102

20/1

Maiden after six starts but signs of ability in her two most recent starts over hurdles. Worth a check in the market on handicap debut with tongue tie fitted for the first time.

Form: 8/25F54

Steel Express³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 100| BF

14/1

Sole success in 12 races came in a 1m5f bumper on heavy ground at Exeter in December 2015. Good third there on her penultimate outing but probably best watched having disappointed subsequently.

Form: 736-039

Ruby Russet^t³²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 100

16/1

Placed once from three starts over hurdles and well held on good-to-soft ground over an extended 1m7f here in March last year. Had placed over the same C&D earlier that month and making her handicap and seasonal debut today.

Form: 29P34-

Howaboutnever^p¹⁹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 100| D

40/1

Four time winner over hurdles including in a selling handicap at Worcester (2m4f, good) in July last year. Unraced since pulling up at Bangor the following month.

Form: PP-051P

Prince Mahler^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: K Woollacott| OR: 99

16/1

Twice a winner over obstacles and put in one of his better efforts when finishing runner-up over 2m4f on soft ground here in November. Fair effort since but likely to find at least one too good once more.

Form: 256727

Mighty Missile^p,t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 97| C

50/1

Disappointing in the main since winning on good-to-firm ground over 2m4f here in April. Pulled up on soft ground at Southwell last time and cheekpieces return today.

Form: 37709P

Garrane⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 96

5/1

Maiden after seven starts but put in an improved effort when 16L fourth over 3m2f at Warwick (heavy) on handicap debut last time out. Drop in trip looks likely to suit and stable are in good form (3/9) at present.

Form: F00844

Heluvagood^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 91

12/1

Eight race maiden and held on all four handicap outings. Beaten 29L over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton last time and more needed today.

Form: 706-P44

The Greenvet^p,t1⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 90WS

12/1

Point-to-point winner but a maiden in eight outings under rules. Had a wind operation since finishing fifth over 3m at Taunton (good) in November and wears a tongue tie for the first time today.

Form: 505-5P5

Drive On Locky^v¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 87| D

50/1

Three time winner but disappointing of late and failed to complete on his two most recent outings. Races off a mark 6lb lower than for his latest success.

Form: 8F77PU

Boardwalk Empire^b1,t⁵⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs K A Buckett| OR: 85

14/1

Dual point-to-point winner a couple of years ago but refused on his most recent outing in that sphere back n April and pulled up at Exeter (soft) on his return to rules racing in December. Wears blinkers for the first time today.

Form: 4F3PR-P

Findusatgorcombe⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: N P Madden| T: J D Frost| OR: 84

50/1

Winner of a 3m2f handicap hurdle at Fontwell (good-to-firm) in August. Well beaten in two subsequent outings and interesting to see how he fares dropping in trip today.

Form: U13177

Breaking Ground^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Shoemark| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 81

25/1

Placed in a novice hurdle at Worcester (2m, good) in June but struggled since including in four outings in handicap company. Others make more appeal.

Form: 977580

Forecasts

Jully Les Buxy (9/2), Garrane (5/1), Goodgirlteresa (7/1), Stolberg (9/1), The Flame (10/1), Heluvagood (12/1), Timeforben (12/1), The Greenvet (12/1), Steel Express (14/1), Boardwalk Empire (14/1), Prince Mahler (16/1), Ruby Russet (16/1), Neetside (20/1), Breaking Ground (25/1), Howaboutnever (40/1), Mighty Missile (50/1), Drive On Locky (50/1), Findusatgorcombe (50/1)

Trainer Neil Mulholland is in good form at present with a 17% strike-rate (5/29) in recent weeks and his representative here GOODGIRLTERESA can register her first victory under rules in this highly competitive handicap hurdle. The selection ran well to finish runner-up to a horse who won twice subsequently on handicap debut at Worcester last time and racing off a 2lb higher mark today she can get the better of top weight Stolberg who was a winner last time out and who will appreciate the forecast heavy ground. Garrane remains unexposed and shaped as if a drop in trip would suit when fourth on handicap debut at Warwick last time and he can finish third.