14:30 Market Rasen

Wednesday 11 April 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Smarkets Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 5m 38.2s

Ataguiseamix^h,t1¹²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P F NichollsWS

9/1

Runner-up in an Irish point-to-point on debut last year and then 8-1 but pulled up on rules debut at Exeter (2m1f, soft) in December. Since had wind surgery and market check looks prudent to gauge confidence in how well that has worked.

Form: 2-P

Balkato Des Bois⁴²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Brisland

100/1

Has failed to complete in five point-to-points and was beaten 30L here in a bumper in June 2015, his only previous race under rules. Watching brief advised on his return to the racecourse.

Form: UFUP5/F-

Braddan Head⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon

66/1

16-1 and not a bad debut effort in a Doncaster bumper (2m½f, good to soft) in February. Pedigree suggests that this step up in trip and obstacles to jump could help with improvement and he can take a step forward this time.

Form: 7

Midnight Chill³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 122

9/4

Put up his best effort over hurdles when runner-up in a Huntingdon maiden (2m, soft) in January. Well held when pulled up in Sandown's Grade 3 2m4f novices' final last month but this is more his level and he should be capable of having a say.

Form: 68-402P

Quest For Life²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 121

3/1

Proving a bit frustrating to follow with six placed efforts from seven starts, but no win. Was runner-up here in a similar race in October and has twice bettered that on soft/heavy at Wetherby since. Has claims but also looks vulnerable.

Form: 322732

The Bottom Bar¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson

7/4

Bought for £100,000 after going close here in a bumper (good) 11-months ago. 5-2 for his hurdles debut in a Towcester maiden in December, when he stayed on for second. Potential to improve on that over this longer trip and has claims.

Form: 6-22

Windshear^t⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 105

33/1

Has won three times at up to 1m4f on the Flat, where he handles cut but has not yet transferred commensurate ability to this code. Best effort was at Newbury in November (2m½f, good to soft). Plenty to prove on recent evidence.

Form: 0-83P70

Cloone Lady¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

16/1

Bought for £40,000 after winning a mares' maiden point-to-point in Ireland in February. Improved on that on hurdles/stable debut over a similar trip at Bangor (soft) last month and should be able to build on that again today.

Form: 2F214

Forecasts

The Bottom Bar (7/4), Midnight Chill (9/4), Quest For Life (3/1), Ataguiseamix (9/1), Cloone Lady (16/1), Windshear (33/1), Braddan Head (66/1), Balkato Des Bois (100/1)

There are several potential improvers here, with Ataguisemix one of those after his wind op, while Cloone Lady and Braddan Head are others who fit that bill. However, THE BOTTOM BAR made a nice enough start in this code at Towcester in December and now stepped up to this trip, he may have more to come than most. Quest For Life would not be winning out of turn, while Midnight Chill has shown a similar level of form and could also have a say.