14:00 Perth

Thursday 17 May 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:1517:50

Bet toteplacepot At totesport.com Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 3m 51.2s

Farlam King^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes

50/1

Showed up prominently on debut at Hexham earlier this month (2m good) until weakening late in the contest. Prospects enhanced with the stable hitting form over the past week or so with a trio of winners.

Form: 0

Kennedys Field¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: Gemma Anderson| OR: 99

25/1

Showed improvement on his fourth hurdles start at Ayr earlier this month (2m good) when finishing 5L fourth to Shankill Castle. Similar ground conditions should suit.

Form: 50038-4

Majdool¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: N Wilson

66/1

Won twice on the Flat for Roger Varian in 2015 (7f), but has had recent issues with the stalls hence the switch to jumping. Never raced beyond 1m previously, so stamina reserves must be considered doubtful.

Form:

Mr Sandgate^p1,t1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith

150/1

Cost just €3,000 as a three-year-old and struggled in bumpers during 2017. Not looked the part in a couple of spins over hurdles either, including over C&D last month; but does encounter quicker ground today for the first time with equipment fitted.

Form: 6/0P0-

Subcontinent²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

8/13

A three-time Flat winner for Charlie Appleby in 2015 (1m-1m2f), with a proven ability to handle quick ground. Solid enough so far over hurdles, and his recent 2L second to Earlshill at Warwick (2m5f gd/soft) sets the standard.

Form: 467252-

Vino's Choice^t¹⁰³

10/1

Won his bumper at this track for Gavin Cromwell in August 2017 (moderate form), but hasn't really delivered as of yet over hurdles, including on handicap debut at Market Rasen in February; more required.

Form: P/16940-

Zacharo¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton

66/1

Made his racecourse debut in an Ayr bumper earlier this month (2m good), and is quickly switched to hurdling following a low-key effort; pedigree suggests he'll stay, but is all rather Flat laden.

Form: 8

Bodacious Name²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: C R King| T: J & S Quinn| BF| D

7/2

Well backed for his hurdles debut over C&D in September (heavy), but hindered by a snapped stirrup leather from mid-race. Ran a solid race on the Flat at Pontefract last month when finishing third over an extended 2m5f trip.

Form: P-

Scales Of Justice³⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

12/1

Placed on the Flat for Charles Hills over 1m2f in May 2017, but very lightly raced thereafter and now makes his hurdles debut for new connections. Conditions fine, but likely to be better with more time.

Form:

Shackles¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards

40/1

Moderate on the Flat in low grade 1m handicaps (0 from 5), so needs to make giant strides for the switch to hurdles; even at this lowly level, in order to figure positively.

Form:

Koala Keel^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 102

20/1

Runner up in an Exeter bumper in April 2017 (beaten 10L), this mare headed to Scotland for £6,500 in August 2017. Improving and gradually learning her trade over hurdles, but suffered a heavy fall over C&D last month (soft).

Form: 43555F-

West Coast Lass²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: R M Smith

33/1

No chance based upon what she's shown so far, including when toiling in rear on hurdles debut over C&D last month (soft); but worth noting that this rider has a fair record when linking up with this trainer.

Form: 06-

Midnight Kate²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs J Stephen

50/1

Shown very little to suggest she's capable of making the frame thus far, and was toiling behind Koala Keel over C&D last month when that mare departed at the final flight. Better judged in low grade handicap company.

Form: 8955-

Forecasts

Subcontinent (8/13), Bodacious Name (7/2), Vino's Choice (10/1), Scales Of Justice (12/1), Koala Keel (20/1), Kennedys Field (25/1), West Coast Lass (33/1), Shackles (40/1), Midnight Kate (50/1), Farlam King (50/1), Zacharo (66/1), Majdool (66/1), Mr Sandgate (150/1)

It's a fairly straightforward task to dismiss many of these runners for now, with just a select few on which to focus. Bodacious Name effectively starts off again over hurdles on vastly different ground to what he encountered here in September, and he rates as a race-fit runner for a talented young rider who was amongst the winners at Kelso recently. However, this race presents the ideal opportunity for the Venetia Williams trained SUBCONTINENT to get off the mark over hurdles. Useful on the Flat for Charlie Appleby, he brings the strongest hurdling efforts into this race and should prove very tough to beat.