18:30 Stratford

Tuesday 3 July 2018

All18:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Racing Welfare Racing Staff Week Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 3m 40.50s

Carntop^t1¹²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie SnowdenWS

6/1

Talented flat performer (rated 98) who found Grade 2 company way too hot on hurdles debut at Kempton in February. Had wind surgery since and given a short break. Tongue-tie goes on and should do better given his flat ability.

Form: 9-

Fleeting Visit³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

14/1

Two starts over hurdles so far have been just fair. Not sure he stayed the longer trip (2m4f) at Worcester last time so this drop back in trip probably a good move. Likely to be more suited to handicaps on the back of this.

Form: 53

Hatcher^p1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| BF| D

6/5

Dual bumper winner that has been well backed on his last couple of starts without winning. He can pull hard and head carriage is awkward at times but talent is certainly there to go well for his yard that won this last year.

Form: 2552-F2

Henry Smith^t1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland

2/1

Fairly useful winner of five races on the Flat. Pleasing start over hurdles when a close second at Bangor (2m½f, good) four weeks ago on first start for this yard. Tongue-tie goes on and with improvement expected he should go well.

Form: 2

Jazri^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: J M Bradley

250/1

Five-time winner on the flat making his hurdles debut today. Trip should be no problem but quite a way below the ability of a few of these on the level so would need to improve for hurdling to go close.

Form:

Sehayli¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly

66/1

Been beaten a very long way on his three attempts over hurdles so far. Will be much more suited to handicaps on the back of this.

Form: 467

The Last Melon¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: J Bennett

200/1

Beaten a long way in both starts over hurdles so far including over C&D last time. That was his first run for seven months so should strip fitter but major improvement needed all the same.

Form: 56475/5

Tripartite³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: P W MiddletonWS

25/1

His hurdles debut at Huntingdon can be upgraded slightly as he gave away 20L at the start. Had a wind operation on the back of that and should strip fitter now. Should be capable of better if starting on terms.

Form: 7

D'waterside⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Loughnane| OR: 111

25/1

Change of tactics to front-running produced his best performance so far over hurdles at Bangor last time. Can be a free going sort so that's probably a good tactic for now. Likely to be vulnerable late on all the same.

Form: 9040-3

Equus Pandora⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| D

20/1

Shaped with some promise in Aintree bumper in May. Didn't get any further than the second flight on hurdling debut at Worcester last week when unseating todays rider. Sent off 3/1 there so clearly thought to have ability.

Form: 1-7U

Shadow's Girl¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn

150/1

Big prices and beaten a very long way on two starts over hurdles so far. Was placed in a bumper last year so there is some ability there but clearly needs to do much more to be involved.

Form: U/438-66

Forecasts

Hatcher (6/5), Henry Smith (2/1), Carntop (6/1), Fleeting Visit (14/1), Equus Pandora (20/1), Tripartite (25/1), D'waterside (25/1), Sehayli (66/1), Shadow's Girl (150/1), The Last Melon (200/1), Jazri (250/1)

Given his flat ability it would be no surprise if Carntop does much better in this sphere at some stage. He found Grade 2 company much too hot on hurdles debut and should do better. Hatcher has plenty of ability and is respected once again, his head carriage in a finish is a slight worry but he has sound claims for his yard that won this last year. HENRY SMITH is taken to make it second time lucky over hurdles having run well at Bangor last time. He can make the required improvement in the first time tongue-tie to get off the mark over hurdles.