15:35 Ffos Las

Sunday 18 February 2018

All14:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Diane Morgans Special Birthday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 4m 6.0s

Holdbacktheriver¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110

10/3

Improving with each run and comes here on the back of a solid effort at Sandown at the start of this month. Big chance from the same mark here.

Form: 4-U3252

Fly Du Charmil^p1⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 106| D

9/2

Won a point-to-point and a bumper but his hurdles form has been very modest so far. Big improvement needed even though he has latent ability.

Form: 1055/4P

Ivanhoe¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: M D Grant| T: M Blanshard| OR: 103| CD

25/1

Has won over C&D but has been disappointing in recent times. The drop in trip will suit after failing to impress over 2m4f but still has a bit to prove just now.

Form: 2B/UP-F7

Cold Shoulder²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 107

7/1

Didn't make much impression in two starts on the Flat for Andrew Balding and has taken a while to adjust to the demands of the jumps scene. Has improvement to find and others more convincing this time around.

Form: 5354

Princess Roania^p,t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 94

4/1

Has a good handful of placed efforts to her name and looks capable of making the rest aware if her presence. 17 starts over hurdles already behind her without a win is an off-putting statistic though.

Form: 423P35

Flanagans Field^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 93| CD

9/2

Consistent and has sound place claims at least on the pick of his efforts. risky for win only, however., as he looks weighted to the limit just now.

Form: 2-23444

Aaryam^b,t³³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 85

16/1

Lost his way during his time with his former yard and looked to be much the same on his debut for his current yard when last seen out. Has a bit to prove on his first start since last March.

Form: 587PPP-

Dragon Khan^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 83| D

9/2

Not won since his time in Ireland and is hard to predict. Comes here on the back of one of his better efforts though, and, as such cannot be confidently ruled out if in a more determined frame of mind.

Form: 63-6753

Non-Runners

Baratineur¹⁶⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: K Bishop J: Conor Ring

Forecasts

Holdbacktheriver (10/3), Princess Roania (4/1), Fly Du Charmil (9/2), Dragon Khan (9/2), Flanagans Field (9/2), Cold Shoulder (7/1), Aaryam (16/1), Baratineur (20/1), Ivanhoe (25/1)

The improving HOLDBACKTHE RIVER makes the most appeal in this modest company and he is fancied to hold court in this company. Dragon Khan isn't the most reliable performer to face the tapes today, but has sound place claim at least in this company. Flanagans Field is another that appeals as contender to make the frame but lacks the scope held by the main selection. Princess Roania catches the eye as the best of the rest.