14:25 Warwick

Friday 23 February 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:4017:10

Whitson Bloodstock & Olly Murphy Racing Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 4.8s

Jaboticaba⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| D

5/2

Triumph Hurdle entry who was an easy winner of his sole start over hurdles in France. Debuts for an in-form yard and one which took this in 2016.

Form: 1

Doctor Bartolo⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

11/10

Dual winner on the Flat and twice finished second since going over hurdles. Sets standard on Newbury run in December, however stable jockey prefers Jaboticaba.

Form: 22

Eolian¹⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: C Poste| T: O Murphy| BF

14/1

Stays 1m2f well on the Flat but not 1m4f when the going is testing. May need the run and it will be borderline whether or not he stays. Rated 72 on the level and one of three in this for the trainer who co-sponsors this race.

Form:

Max Liebermann^t³⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: J RyanWS

25/1

Only showed modest form for Aidan O'Brien and this may be needed after 10 months off and wind surgery. Stable took this in 2013, but otherwise few positives can be offered.

Form:

Never A Word^t⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

66/1

Nine-race maiden on the level with his best form coming on AW surfaces. Doubtful he will be good enough and he was below-par on sole start when conditions were soft.

Form:

Simafar¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy

50/1

Rated in the mid-sixties on the Flat in Ireland but has yet to win a race form 10 starts. Likely his stable has stronger contenders.

Form: 6

Thistimenextyear^h1,t1⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: R Spencer

10/1

Won a middle-distance maiden at Lingfield in the summer, but cut little ice subsequently. Trainer has opted for new headgear and that raises alarm bells.

Form:

Working Class¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood

9/1

Winner of a modest maiden auction on the Flat at Lingfield but seemed to lose his way pretty quickly afterwards. Third on hurdling debut in a race lacking depth, but showed enough to suggest he can win an easier race than this on better ground.

Form: 3

Zamalight¹³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

25/1

Proved regressive on the Flat last year for Amanda Perrett. Joined a trainer who has a knack of rejuvenating horses, but it would take some significant money in the ring to make him worthy of interest.

Form:

Zoltan Varga¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: M R Channon

25/1

Has shown some ability in bumpers but less so in both starts over hurdles. This looks stronger than either of those contests and he has a lot to find.

Form: 624494

Let's Be Happy⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: A Stronge

66/1

Winner of a low grade Brighton handicap on the Flat and showed little aptitude for jumping at Ludlow last month.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Doctor Bartolo (11/10), Jaboticaba (5/2), Working Class (9/1), Thistimenextyear (10/1), Eolian (14/1), Zoltan Varga (25/1), Zamalight (25/1), Max Liebermann (25/1), Simafar (50/1), Never A Word (66/1), Let's Be Happy (66/1)

Olly Murphy will be keen to land a race he co-sponsors and Eolian looks the pick of his trio. A 1m2f winner on the Flat who handles soft ground, he should be thereabouts if this does not become a stamina test. Alan King has won this previously and saddles Newbury and Wetherby runner-up Doctor Bartolo as well as JABOTICABA. It is impossible to evaluate the value of his win in France, however he is entered for the Triumph and the yard are in good form. Wayne Hutchinson prefers him to his stable companion and that hint may be worth taking.