15:45 Wincanton

Monday 9 April 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5517:25

Royal Bath & West Show Society Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 4m 13.3s

Argyle^v¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: William Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 112

6/1

Looked one of the least exposed when getting off the mark over hurdles at Plumpton (2m, heavy) off a 10lb lower mark and followed that up with another good run. Shaped well on the Flat last time (off a good mark) and not out of this off top weight.

Form: 38-2412

Flo'sboy Sam^b1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 108

16/1

Looked a very difficult and temperamental sort last time out at Taunton when refusing to race having made little impact over hurdles to date. On that showing alone looks one to avoid.

Form: 88-47PR

Choix Des Armes^h³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 107

7/2

First try in handicaps for a yard who need no introduction around here having shown ability in a C&D novice hurdle last time. Doesn't appear to be one of the stable stars but has the option to do better in handicaps.

Form: 7-063

Ormskirk²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 104

9/2

Fit from running on the Flat he took a positive step forward on his first run over hurdles for this stable in what was a weak affair. Since run well twice on the Flat though and now returns to hurdles with his confidence buoyed and merits respect.

Form: 77-4473

He Is Rosy¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 100

12/1

A winner in point-to-points he's made little impact in novice hurdles although he was ridden with an eye to the future when last seen. He looks the type for low-grade handicaps but this mark looks stiff for his debut.

Form: 441-668

Born Legend^b³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 96

9/1

A surprise winner in novice company at Bangor under an enterprising ride in November he's found life tough since even on the back of wind surgery. His record overall is rather patchy and there are more convincing profiles in this race.

Form: 31P75P

Get Wishing^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Shoemark| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 95| BF

10/1

Testing conditions appeared to suit him when he ran up to his best at Exeter on New Year's Day hinting at better to come as the form looked strong. Both his starts in handicaps since have been poor though and he comes here under a cloud.

Form: 8-0834P

Kalarika^p,t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 94

9/2

Has taken her a little while to get going but she finally sprang to life in handicaps on her third try in the sphere dropped to a career-low mark. That was a weak contest but she's less exposed than most at level and a 6lb rise may not stop her here.

Form: 704061

Bonza Girl⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 92

14/1

Going into handicaps at least gives her a more realistic chance of being competitive having hinted at a little ability last time out at Exeter. She wasn't unduly punished there and is worth watching here for any further positive signs.

Form: 0976

Madame Claud^h⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Alan Johns| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 90WS

66/1

Did manage to win on the Flat back in 2016 but her hurdles form is modest to say the least and wind surgery will have needed to work the oracle. Heads into handicaps over hurdles for the first time but can only be watched for now.

Form: B0PP7

Forecasts

Choix Des Armes (7/2), Kalarika (9/2), Ormskirk (9/2), Argyle (6/1), Born Legend (9/1), Get Wishing (10/1), He Is Rosy (12/1), Bonza Girl (14/1), Flo'sboy Sam (16/1), Madame Claud (66/1)

This isn’t a strong contest and even though Kalarika scored in a weak contest last time she is open to a little improvement and is still less exposed than many of these. Choix Des Armes is a similarly unexposed type who wouldn’t be one if the stable stars but should run a sound race at this level. ARGYLE has already shown he can handle this ground and showed promise on the Flat last time to keep him ticking over and he’s taken to defy top weight here. Ormskirk is another who may be able to transfer some good Flat AW form to hurdles having taken a step forward already for this yard over hurdles.