15:05 Wexford

Saturday 17 March 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Neville Hotels Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 15:09 | Winning time: 4m 22.90s

Colonel Maximus^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 109

25/1

Winner of a Flat maiden on heavy ground but his form took a downward turn subsequently. No show in either start over hurdles and opening mark requires him to improve.

Form: 090

Novano^h²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: S Neville| OR: 109

16/1

Ran well in a couple of minor races last summer. Returns from seven months off and with conditions softer than ideal.

Form: 70-420P

Tarazani¹³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 108

10/1

Good handicapper on the Flat with a turf rating of 78. Best hurdles effort came when 6L behind Whiskey Sour last summer and he is potentially well-handicapped. Ground has to be a concern.

Form: 856

Theatre World³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R Loughran| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 99

8/1

Bred to want further than this but he would have to be considered if supported in the market. Has left the impression we are yet to see the best of him and the switch to handicapping may prove lucrative.

Form: 960

Quamino^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 97

14/1

Ran to a similar level in his first three starts before taking a backward step last time. Stable have gone close in this race previously and tongue-tie applied for the first time.

Form: 0070

Thereisnodoubt³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: A Leahy| OR: 97

4/1

Ideally suited to these testing conditions and arrives on the back of a solid run last time. Would have stronger claims over further, but looks sure to be in the picture.

Form: 623943

Hughies Bay^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss C Daffy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Howard| OR: 93

16/1

Longstanding maiden whose best form has come at Thurles. Runner-up there last time despite blundering two out. Will not be far away if running to a similar level here.

Form: P-52P72

Pound A Stroke^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 93| D

8/1

Won a Thurles handicap hurdle in November before a second of 17 on St Stephens day at Down Royal. Finished well behind Thereisnodoubt last time and he may not want conditions as testing as this.

Form: 0012P8

Soul Season²⁸³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: T James| OR: 93| CD

7/1

Lightly-raced for his age and has come into his own since going handicapping. Up 5lb for a win over 2m4½f here last time but has the tactical pace for this trip. Has been off nine months but has shown he goes well fresh.

Form: 46/0-121

No Secrets Here^h,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: S Doyle| OR: 92

14/1

Was sent off favourite here last May so clearly has ability. Last run will have been needed and interesting to see how the market rates his chances this time.

Form: 07-6608

A Place Apart⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 102

9/2

Modest Flat handicapper who looks set to make a better hurdler judged on his latest effort at Limerick. Just outgunned by an older mare in desperate ground that day and has been given time to recover.

Form: 4842

Getaway Rose^p⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 88| BF

8/1

Appeared to be progressing until a dismal run last time. Possible something was amiss and only the market can guide us further.

Form: 906U7P

Forecasts

Thereisnodoubt (4/1), A Place Apart (9/2), Soul Season (7/1), Pound A Stroke (8/1), Getaway Rose (8/1), Theatre World (8/1), Tarazani (10/1), Quamino (14/1), No Secrets Here (14/1), Hughies Bay (16/1), Novano (16/1), Colonel Maximus (25/1)

Tarazani is undoubtedly well-handicapped when ranked on the ability he has shown on the level and when chasing home County Hurdle third Whiskey Sour on his second start over hurdles. However, better ground may be needed and he is one to keep on the right side when conditions turn favourable. Hughies Boy and Thereisnodoubt have obvious claims judged on their latest efforts, but it is possible that THEATRE WORLD is set to reveal his real worth now handicapping. There is a lot to like about his pedigree and he has shaped better than his finishing positions suggest on his three runs so far. A Place Apart is another to consider if over the hard race he had in December.