14:30 Wincanton

Wednesday 28 March 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:15

Smarkets Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 8.61s

Midnight Request³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 117

18/1

Good effort to win on reappearance at Exeter, but has been out of sorts in three runs since. Slipping back down the weights, but needs to bounce back to form.

Form: 15-15P8

Innisfree Lad⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 115WS

2/1

Won a handicap by a long way at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve and almost added to that success at Huntingdon last time. Up another 5lb, which makes life tough, and has had wind surgery since then. One to consider.

Form: 095132

Quiz Master^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115

11/4

Off the mark over hurdles at the 10th attempt when winning comfortably at Fontwell last time. Has to cope with an 8lb rise, but is in good heart and enters calculations.

Form: 422531

Lex Talionis^p,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Angus Cheleda⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C J Mann| OR: 113

9/2

Irish import who has run well on his last two starts for his new trainer. Just touched off in first-time cheekpieces at Sandown and has a good chance on that display off 3lb higher with the headgear retained.

Form: 123732

Vivant^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 110

33/1

Trained in France before joining current trainer for whom he was disappointing on debut at Market Rasen. Needs to show much more off 3lb lower.

Form: 0726P-0

Stonemadforspeed²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 110| CD

11/1

Back-to-back wins in October, both on a sound surface, but was held in two subsequent runs off higher marks and was well beaten in a jumpers' bumper at Kempton last time. May find underfoot conditions against him.

Form: 311347

Daytime Ahead¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: R J Hodges| OR: 102| C

5/1

Showed a liking for this course when successful in November and again off 14lb higher when second in January, Disappointing since, but return to this venue and drop in weights may spark a revival.

Form: 1224PU

Non-Runners

Burst Ya Bubble³¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: J W Mullins J: Daniel Sansom

Forecasts

Innisfree Lad (2/1), Quiz Master (11/4), Lex Talionis (9/2), Daytime Ahead (5/1), Stonemadforspeed (11/1), Burst Ya Bubble (12/1), Midnight Request (18/1), Vivant (33/1)

Innisfree Lad has been running well and may take another step forward after wind surgery, but he may have to play second fiddle to DAYTIME AHEAD, who seems to thrive at this venue and has been given a chance by the handicapper. Lex Talionis and Quiz Master have fair claims, but the going may be too soft for Burst Ya Bubble and Stonemadforspeed.