15:15 Market Rasen

Sunday 18 February 2018

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:50

In Play Betting At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 4m 15.3s

Bertimont^t³⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| DWS

16/1

No win on the board since 2014, though did shape better in County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Off since April and has undergone a wind op, market check called for with mark lowered another 4lb.

Form: F92200-

Apasionado³³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130| BF| CD

4/1

Lightly-raced seven-year-old, won a couple of novice hurdles at Uttoxeter and Huntingdon in late 2016 on good ground and continued to shape with promise in two runner-up finishes last spring. Returns from layoff for handicap bow and respected.

Form: 111722-

Whatzdjazz¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| C

8/1

Yeats mare has three wins from five starts over timber, including over 2m4½f on good ground around here in July. Looked held when falling at Newcastle in September off this rating, returns from break and needs a bit more seemingly.

Form: 8-1311F

Solomon Grey⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130

6/1

Impressive novice success at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) when scoring with plenty in hand, posted solid effort in decent Kempton contest (third) on Boxing Day and looks a contender from opening handicap mark as a result.

Form: 32-2213

Treshnish³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 123

9/2

Useful novice form and made winning start in handicaps at Musselburgh (2m, soft) last month. Raised 3lb in a better contest but should have more to offer.

Form: 63-2131

Paddys Runner^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 122| D

16/1

Best effort for this yard came over 2m4½f around here in October when just held off a mark of 120. Won over this trip at Wincanton a year ago from 2lb higher mark and fit from recent AW spins, may go well today.

Form: 20-6256

Always Resolute²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: C R King| T: B Ellison| OR: 121

20/1

Winning start over hurdles in Catterick maiden back in December 2015 seems a long while ago now. Toiled in all three hurdles starts this term and probably needs more than the 4lb relief he's gained for this. Back down in trip.

Form: 428/667

Nayati²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 128

7/2

French Flat winner, made pleasing winning start over hurdles for new trainer at Newbury in December. Most fortunate to make it two-from-two at Ascot last month and will surely have to improve on switch to handicaps to go in again. Yard are in form.

Form: 11

Oxford Blu^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 125

6/1

Wide-margin winner of Fakenham (2m, heavy) juvenile contest in December, run with credit in both starts since and could go well on handicap bow with cheekpieces restored and champion jockey back on top.

Form: 143

Mr Kite^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 110| CD

20/1

Good winner over extended-two-miles at Musselburgh on good ground last spring, soft ground / lack of fitness probably accounted for poor run there last month on sole outing since. Not discounted, but yet to show a liking for soft conditions.

Form: P6331-6

Forecasts

Nayati (7/2), Apasionado (4/1), Treshnish (9/2), Solomon Grey (6/1), Oxford Blu (6/1), Whatzdjazz (8/1), Paddys Runner (16/1), Bertimont (16/1), Mr Kite (20/1), Always Resolute (20/1)

SOLOMON GREY gets the nod having shaped well in good novice company at Kempton on Boxing Day. He had previously posted a decent win at Plumpton and can make a winning start in handicaps now. Fellow handicap debutant Oxford Blu is well worth paying attention to with Johnson booked to steer, while Mr Kite may improve on last month's reappearance at Musselburgh, assuming conditions don't deteriorate. Nayati was fortunate to maintain winning ways at Ascot last time and may be vulnerable. Paddys Runner and Apasionado are both capable of having a say in the finish.