15:10 Stratford

Thursday 2 August 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Watch Racing UK On Sky 426 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 48.2s

Innocent Touch¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 127| D

6/1

Up 3lb after a sound effort in defeat at Cartmel last month but looks weighted to his best just now. Stern test ahead under top weight.

Form: 4/0-2172

Mystic Sky^v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 124| D

9/1

Well held in the Listed Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen latest but had previously gone well here after a wind operation seemed to revitalise the mare. This is more her level but she looks weighted to the limit.

Form: 140-229

Parthenius⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| D

11/8

Posted a good effort in a better race than this at Aintree in June and likely to go well despite his history of wind problems. Has to be high in the shortlist in this company.

Form: 137-2

Regulation^b¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N B King| OR: 122| D

11/1

Likes this C&D and has ground conditions to suit. Notably well handicapped and, as he's versatile regarding the ground, the gelding could prove too wily for a good number of the rest.

Form: 41-6272

Miss Spent^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 114

33/1

In danger of becoming frustrating and hasn't had much joy since switching back to hurdles. Also off-putting that she' only had one start since last November and may again need the run.

Form: 24P35-5

Well Said^h²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 113| D

12/1

Shock winner (50/1) at Worcester last month but the form has been boosted by the runner-up since, so very feasible there might be more to come. Not too harshly treated but does have more to do now tackling handicap company for the first time.

Form: P-P3961

Gran Maestro^b¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 112| D

20/1

Generally consistent but possible he's a shade of better days now. Latest effort was lacklustre and the gelding holds no secrets from the assessor. Other may prove more reliable if this goes down to the wire.

Form: 216-347

Mercian King^v1¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 111| D

12/1

Form figures read well and the gelding showed no loss of interest when reverting to hurdles last time out. The fitting of a visor could be a vital factor this time around. Shortlisted as a player in this company.

Form: F3-2232

Red Hot Chilly¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 110| BF| D

6/1

Being kept busy this summer and has already rewarded the initiative with a success at Worcester and a couple of placed efforts elsewhere. This does look a bit tougher but the gelding has to enter calculations from just 4lb above his winning mark.

Form: 5/0-4215

Forecasts

Parthenius (11/8), Innocent Touch (6/1), Red Hot Chilly (6/1), Mystic Sky (9/1), Regulation (11/1), Mercian King (12/1), Well Said (12/1), Gran Maestro (20/1), Miss Spent (33/1)

Several hold decent claims as the likes of Mercian King, Well Said and Regulkation all appeal as likely contenders in what is a pretty open handicap. However, preference is given to PARENIUS is just 3lb higher than he was for a good effort at Aintree when last seen out and, assuming he's over his wind problems, the gelding could take some pegging back.