17:35 Newton Abbot

Saturday 14 July 2018

All14:2014:5515:2516:0016:3517:0517:35

Download The Free At The Races App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 5m 8.3s

The Missus⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 100WS

8/1

Only two starts so far this year on the back of a long absence and both have been poor. Has since had a wind operation and another short break and needs to bounce back.

Form: 5122/P8-

Ilovemints²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 100

11/1

Slowly getting the hang of things over hurdles and not sure the drop in trip suited at Market Rasen (2m½f, good) last time so going back up in distance here is a positive. With improvement still on the cards she could be a player in here.

Form: 3/F53-53

Polo The Mumm^t¹²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss H Welch⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 100| CD

14/1

Didn't seem in love with the soft ground when last seen back in March. Conditions today much more to his liking. tends to run his race but likely to find one or two too strong.

Form: 33/346P-

Great Lover^b²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 100

33/1

two lifeless efforts over hurdles were followed by a poor showing over fences last time. Mark continues to be in free fall but impossible to recommend in his current mood.

Form: 8450-P8

Bay Fortuna^p⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: M D I Usher| OR: 97| BF

16/1

A little high in the weights now having been running with credit of late. beaten a long way when sent off favourite at Ffos Las last time and Richard Johnson now deserts him for Third Act.

Form: 75/19-27

Sea Of Mystery^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 96| BF

2/1

not a lot went right on handicap debut at Ffos Las last time when getting hampered at a crucial stage and flying home all to late. Raised 3lbs for not winning but clearly has loads of potential and this longer trip is sure to suit.

Form: 8694-3

Free Bounty^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 92

33/1

Yet to make the frame over hurdles and handicap is continuing to fall. Should find his level soon but champion rider prefers to ride Third Act in here.

Form: 947-F0P

Wells Gold^p⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 90| D

4/1

7lb higher in the weights that for his last win after a sound effort here over C&D (good) last month when finishing a close-up third of 17. Place claims at least once again if in the same mood.

Form: 081P-83

Willyegolassiego¹²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 90

14/1

Still 7lb higher in the weights that when scrambling home in a mares event last June. returns from a break here and will need to be in tip top shape to go close.

Form: 9P/2195-

Flow From Devon²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 90

40/1

Beaten a long way in all three starts so far over hurdles. opening mark for handicaps may be a little on the high side from what we have seen so far but early days and market a good guide.

Form: P/459

Theatre Stage⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 89

5/1

Often attracts market support and often lets punters down. Clearly shows more at home than on the course and needs to do much more to be involved.

Form: 5355-94

Karl Marx^b⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 85| D

33/1

Won off a 4lb lower mark at Taunton (2m½f, heavy) back in April. Struggled next time and has been given a short break since. Mind find a couple of these better handicapped.

Form: 04221-5

Slaying The Dragon^p,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: M Hill| OR: 85

14/1

The cheekpieces sparked him into life on handicap debut last time when finishing a close second here over 2m2½f, good) last month. Goes up in trip here and races off the same mark so solid credentials once more.

Form: 0/B8P8-2

Time And Again^p1,t⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 84

33/1

A 21-race maiden who's form has tiled off badly of late. Cheekpieces are added to the tongue-tie here but needs to do much more before being of interest despite falling mark.

Form: 3/69576-

Third Act^p,t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 79

12/1

been really struggling over fences of late and his mark is dropping rapidly as a result. Switches to hurdles here with the champion jockey booked and it would be no surprise were he to bounce back to form here from a dangerous mark.

Form: 8P-3F46

Gaelic Flow³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 77| BF

14/1

led close home and picked up late on on both his last two starts having looked the likely winner. Slightly shorter trip could help but similar story could be on the cards here.

Form: 5/798-34

That's Gonna Sting^b1,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: J Scott| OR: 72

16/1

Real poor form of late over both fences and hurdles. mark has dropped to a very dangerous level and blinkers are now added but impossible to fancy in his current mood.

Form: F5P-P77

Forecasts

Sea Of Mystery (2/1), Wells Gold (4/1), Theatre Stage (5/1), The Missus (8/1), Ilovemints (11/1), Third Act (12/1), Willyegolassiego (14/1), Polo The Mumm (14/1), Gaelic Flow (14/1), Slaying The Dragon (14/1), Bay Fortuna (16/1), That's Gonna Sting (16/1), Free Bounty (33/1), Time And Again (33/1), Karl Marx (33/1), Great Lover (33/1), Flow From Devon (40/1)

Probably not quite as competitive as the numbers suggest with several of these badly out of form. Third Act is on that list but he has dropped to such a dangerous mark it is very interesting that Richard Johnson takes the ride so he is respected. Theatre Stage clearly shows more at home than he does on the track but should come good at some stage and is on the short list. SEA OF MYSTERY was such a big eye-catcher last time that he has to be the selection here. He looks a really well handicapped horse and this extra trip should be right up his street.