15:20 Wincanton

Tuesday 15 May 2018

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

smarkets.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 5m 17.10s

Zulu Oscar²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 114| C

6/1

All runs so far this winter have been moderate. Mark is falling quite rapidly as a result and is now 8lb lower than his last win. Whilst you can make a claim from a handicapping perspective, he needs to do much more to be involved.

Form: 878485-

Garde Forestier^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: J W Mullins| OR: 112| C

14/1

Winner here over 1m7½f (soft) back in November. Best to put a line through recent run over C&D as the ground was bottomless that day. Still has to prove he stays this trip having shaped like it would be ok in the past.

Form: 375/13P-

Chato¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 112

11/1

Won and placed in bumpers. Best pece of hurdles form came at Luldow (2m5f, soft). Was very disappointing on handicap debut at Warwick last time on first run since a wind operation and better is expected at some stage.

Form: 276/480-

Itsamanslife²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 110

20/1

Well held in all starts under rules so far and was beaten on long way on handicap debut at Ludlow over this trip last time. Dropped 2lbs for that but needs to do much more to be involved in a finish.

Form: 2/05647-

Stole The Show⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 110

11/8

Improved for switch to this yard when wining at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last week when idling in front. Races off the same mark here and top rider booked so every chance of a repeat with a similar effort.

Form: F5/828-1

The Black Squirrel¹⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 107

13/2

Bumper winner who hasn't been seen since being well beaten here in a novice hurdle back in October. Probably been saved for this better ground and top rider booked going up in trip for handicap debut. Market support would be significant.

Form: 321657-

Celestial Path^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 104

16/1

Former top-class Flat performer who has lost his way since going hurdling. Takes a step up in trip today and recent Kempton (2m, good) effort was better. Hard to make as solid case for.

Form: P4/4359-

Flo'sboy Sam^b³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 103WS

40/1

Can be a temperamental sort and has refused to race. Better last time here (1m7½f, heavy) when going ok before weakening late on. Falling mark and has had a wind operation since that last run. Not one to rely on.

Form: 8/47PRP-

Benbecula^b⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 91| C

5/1

Has looked on the downgrade for a while and was very lazy here over C&D (good) latest. Likes to lead but couldn't get to the front until late on last time. Hard to fancy at present.

Form: 04225-4

Non-Runners

Whatthebutlersaw³⁶⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: D J S Ffrench Davis J: M D Grant

Forecasts

Stole The Show (11/8), Benbecula (5/1), Zulu Oscar (6/1), Whatthebutlersaw (6/1), The Black Squirrel (13/2), Chato (11/1), Garde Forestier (14/1), Celestial Path (16/1), Itsamanslife (20/1), Flo'sboy Sam (40/1)

Better is expected of Chato at some point. This is just his second run in a handicap and has time on side. Garde Forestier goes up in trip today and has shaped like it may suit a few times. Stole The Show won on first start for his new yard at Fontwell last week and will be a big player once again. The selection is THE BLACK SQUIRREL who looks to have been saved for a summer campaign and is interesting going up in trip on handicap debut with Richard Johnson booked.