15:40 Wetherby

Thursday 29 March 2018

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

Bulloughs Cleaning Services Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 35.5s

Doctor Haze⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 117

18/1

Showed promise on his hurdling debut at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in November. Was tried over 2m7f and ran well for a long way. This trip should suit for handicap debut, though will need to improve to defy this initial mark.

Form: 331-273

Lough Salt²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: S Bowen| T: R C Guest| OR: 117| C

14/1

Both career wins have been here over 3m (on good to soft/good), the latest from 3lb lower in October. Not as good since, though reasonable effort in jumpers' bumper last time and looks a leading player back at this track.

Form: 3F0-165

Isle Of Ewe³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 114| BF

15/8

Confirmed the promise of her bumper efforts when scoring by 28L on her hurdles debut at Southwell in August 2016. Not seen from then until last month when beaten 12½L. Drops 1lb and could be well treated if stripping fitter for that run.

Form: 52/21-6

Free Range^b²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 114

11/2

Scored on hurdles debut at Fakenham (2m, good) in November and ran well over 2m4f (soft) next time. Bettered that over fences without winning and was back over hurdles last time with another decent effort. Not ruled out from 1lb higher.

Form: 124342

Forty Crown⁷³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 112| C| D

66/1

Scored over C&D in 2013 (soft) from 1lb higher. Form has dipped in the main this season, but wouldn't rule him out of the money if he could reproduce his Kelso effort from November from this 3lb lower mark.

Form: 37-458P

Stay In Touch^p1²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112

11/1

Has been showing steady improvement this term and put in his best hurdles effort at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) two starts ago. Not beaten far in a jumpers' bumper last time and can go well from this mark on handicap debut.

Form: U87432

Rajapur^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 110

33/1

1m6f soft ground Flat winner who has made the frame in 2-3 hurdles runs so far. Initial handicap mark looks stiff enough going into this and he is probably going to need to improve to make an impact.

Form: 2-43

Transpennine Star⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 110

8/1

Dual winner over 1m6f on the Flat and not without promise from two runs over hurdles at similar trips to this. Appears to be on a fair mark for this hurdle debut and it would be no surprise if he is able to make an impact.

Form: 33

Cash To Ash¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 107

12/1

Made the frame on his hurdles debut at Southwell (1m7½f, soft) last month and better that over a similar trip at Market Rasen last time. Makes his handicap debut from a stiff enough mark, so a market check should provide clues.

Form: 86P534

Boudry¹¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: R Dobbin| OR: 107

16/1

Has been unable to add to his Newcastle bumper win (2m½f, good to soft) from 2016 and was winless for Gordon Elliott, though hinted that there are more races in him. Interesting on stable debut and another to check on in the market.

Form: 4-56050

Tap Night^p,t1⁶⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 106| D

25/1

Not as good as he once was and has been unable to win since December 2015. Trip/ground no problem for him and new headgear combi may help but not been showing enough to be confident about his chance despite latest 2lb drop.

Form: 2746-73

Christmas Twenty^h³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

16/1

0-19 under rules and an inconsistent performer. Would have frame claims if able to repeat his Sedgefield run of two starts ago (2m5f, soft), though this 3lb higher mark makes it tougher. Others preferred.

Form: 35PF3P

Allfredandnobell^v1³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100| C

25/1

Scored here over 2m (good to soft) 14-months ago and continued in decent form last spring. Not at that level this term including here over 2m3½f last month after wind surgery. Visor now fitted and money for him would be interesting.

Form: 538-364

Non-Runners

Ascot De Bruyere³⁶⁰

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: J Ewart J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Isle Of Ewe (15/8), Free Range (11/2), Transpennine Star (8/1), Ascot De Bruyere (8/1), Stay In Touch (11/1), Cash To Ash (12/1), Lough Salt (14/1), Christmas Twenty (16/1), Boudry (16/1), Doctor Haze (18/1), Allfredandnobell (25/1), Tap Night (25/1), Rajapur (33/1), Forty Crown (66/1)

An open contest on paper and the suggestion is ISLE OF EWE, who should be better for her recent reappearance from a lengthy absence, looks well treated on the evidence of her 2016 form and has the benefit of the champion on board. Stay In Touch looks likely to be one of the leading dangers to the selection, while Doctor Haze, course-specialist Lough Salt and Free Range are the most interesting of the remainder. There are several others who would be of interest if the subject of market support, so a close eye on that is suggested.