15:45 Warwick

Wednesday 23 May 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Feldon Dunsmore Carnival Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 3m 43.60s

Unison³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 145| D

14/1

Looked to have reached a plateau in his form prior to his back-to-back wins at Taunton in February taking his form to another level (last win coming off 140). Looked out of sorts apart from a career high mark last time out; more needed.

Form: 95311P-

Zubayr²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

7/2

Has shown some useful hurdling form and his best recent run came a few starts ago when second at Kempton to a useful sort (form franked). Last two runs have been nowhere near that level though although conditions should suit better here.

Form: 602208-

Rossetti^h²²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| CD

40/1

9/19 over hurdles although he's not won since last summer and after his last two wins which included a C&D win his form tailed off towards the end of his campaign. Now fresh after a break he might just need this run after an absence.

Form: 11580U-

Utility^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| D

33/1

Unfortunately got left at the start last time out when sent chasing and now reverts to hurdles having shown some useful form in this discipline. This is essentially his first run since a wind op but does need watching at the start.

Form: 11067-R

Nietzsche²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 125| D

11/2

Highly-tried last season in plenty of decent handicaps he never really got involved in any of them having previously shown some useful form. Becoming well handicapped but looked laboured on the Flat last time and raced with some attitude.

Form: 13/6000-

Mister Universum^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

11/2

From a yard that can do little wrong at the moment he took two novice hurdles last summer before being put away. Made a marked improvement when brought back last time on his handicap debut; took second (race not run to suit) and of interest here.

Form: 411232-

Eskendash¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: R Johnson| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 124| D

3/1

Had previously looked a little weak in a finish but got the job done in fine style last time out in a scenario that favoured him. Now faces a tougher test back in handicaps off a career-high mark; travels strongly.

Form: 43323-1

Mystic Sky^b²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 123| D

13/2

Bolted up by 14L last June at Southwell (2m, good) turning in a career-best performance; since had a wind op. Finished well held in a 0-145 Sandown handicap last time but shaped much better than her final position suggests and one to take note of.

Form: 5/42140-

Level Of Intensity^p,t⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 112| D

9/1

A wind op and a decent surface were the catalysts for a return to form and his second hurdles win when taking lower grade Kempton contest last time. This will prove more difficult off a new high mark but he deserves to take his chance.

Form: 1357-1

Forecasts

Eskendash (3/1), Zubayr (7/2), Mister Universum (11/2), Nietzsche (11/2), Mystic Sky (13/2), Level Of Intensity (9/1), Unison (14/1), Utility (33/1), Rossetti (40/1)

A competitive event for the time of the year and there are a few here that can be given a sound chance. Both Eskendash and Level Of Intensity were successful at Kempton last time out but in a lower grade than this and whilst they deserve to take their chance their new marks and this class will test them. Mystic Sky is hard to ignore with the ground in her favour and she will have been brought forward by her run at Sandown last time which is far better than it looked and her mark of 123 looks to give her something to work with. MASTER UNIVERSUM from the Skelton team is given the vote though after the promise he showed at Ludlow last time on his handicap debut.