totequadpot Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 27.70s

Luckime¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| BF

11/8

Wide margin winner when comfortably making all at Catterick before falling last time. Stable in excellent form currently and he has been found a good opportunity to atone for his lapse.

Form: 57531F

Robert's Star^p⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: M Bradstock| OR: 116

5/2

Showed he handles soft ground last time and he is much improved since more patient tactics have been employed. Did not have much left and up 7lb, but Bryony Frost claims a useful allowance.

Form: P-58431

Late Shipment^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 115

8/1

Remains above his last winning mark and well below the form he was showing when providing this yard with their last NH winner in March 2017.

Form: 2-74F57

Midnight Request^b1¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Buckley⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 115| D

9/1

Down to his last winning mark and blinkers applied this time. Last effort was an improvement on his previous three starts, but was still below the standard required to win this.

Form: 5-15P85

The Cider Maker^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Best| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 113| BF

5/1

Won two staying chases at Plumpton in February, 2016, but was sidelined for 630 days before returning to action in December. Touched off in a handicap hurdle at Hereford, but pulled up there last time and he is yet to win off a mark this high.

Form: 13/532P

Forecasts

Luckime (11/8), Robert's Star (5/2), The Cider Maker (5/1), Late Shipment (8/1), Midnight Request (9/1)

Venetia Williams has her time in such good shape at the moment that it is hard to look past LUCKIME who trounced his rivals at Catterick before crashing out at Carlisle last time. He looks more progressive than the majority of these with the notable exception of Robert's Star. Mark Bradstock's runner has significantly raised his game since different tactics have been employed, but his revised mark for his latest success appears harsh. Late Shipment and Midnight Request would have every chance if back to their best, but The Cider Maker has too many questions to answer.