16:55 Stratford

Thursday 2 August 2018

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

All New racinguk.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 5m 28.10s

Jonagold^p,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

16/1

A winner at Bangor over fences last October, the gelding posted a fair effort when sent back over timer in seller last time out. No back over a more appropriate trip, the top weight has sound place claims back a track that suits him well.

Form: 5315F-3

The Last Melon⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: J Bennett| OR: 96

20/1

Held here twice since his return from an absence and should also have benefitted from a spin on the AW at the weekend. Still unexposed over hurdles but has yet to make the frame and needs to up his game considerably to alter that statistic.

Form: 6475/57

Montycristo²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 95

33/1

Mixing the Flat and Jumping with a lack of success up to press and does need to start showing more than he has so far. Not difficult to leave out of any betting plans just for the time being.

Form: 4U7-7

Visage Blanc^b1,t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 95

9/1

0-9 over hurdles but has enough ability to suggest this is her level, and has she has adapted well after a wind surgery operation. The fitting of blinkers is an interesting move and one which can prompt a cautious eye towards the betting market.

Form: 085-295

His Dream⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 95

13/2

0-5 over hurdles and has really struggled to make any sort of impact up to now. Best watched despite representing a top yard, which is going great guns just now.

Form: 1650-97

Seven Nation Army^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 94

10/1

Put in a solid run after well over year off when fifth of eleven at Worcester last month. An effort which underlines that the gelding still retains ability and, given that his fitness has been topped up, he make the shortlist here.

Form: 337/33-5

Boethius²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 92

13/2

Won a couple of point-to-points before getting off the mark of his new yard at Worcester last month. A 5lb rise looks fair and, with the champion jockey again booked for the ride, the gelding could easily still be a step or two ahead of the rest.

Form: P311-81

Simply Lucky^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 92| BF

5/2

Consistent at a low grade but has returned from a wind operation with a vengeance to win 2 of his last 4 starts. Allied to that, the gelding's yard is bang-in-form just now; which all points towards the expectations of a big run from the gelding.

Form: 41/1413

Sergio^t¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 91

25/1

Just one run posted since last December and obviously needs to prove his fitness. Also has a modest profile so far and has a lot to find with the pick of the opposition.

Form: 8069/3P-

Dyna Might^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 91

40/1

Unexposed over hurdles but has yet to show any real aptitude and isn't too difficult to overlook in the search for a likely winner.

Form: 584

Scorpion Star^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: J McGrath| T: M Hill| OR: 83

20/1

Form has been a very mixed bag since joining his current trainer and the gelding has the look of an unreliable type. He did post one of his better efforts last time out, but is not certain to repeat the performance on this softer ground.

Form: 598P-95

Petrify^p,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 77| D

8/1

A recent winner at Newton Abbot (Scorpion Star well held), the eight-year-old has snippets of solid form to his name. He is, however, also prone to the odd stinker, so isn't one to follow blindly. A betting check is highly advised.

Form: 45-6313

Gaelic Flow¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 74

10/1

Ran well to be placed here in May but has been below that standard twice since. Possible the return to Stratford will help but a leap of faith is still required. Others make more appeal.

Form: 798-349

Non-Runners

For Jim⁵⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: J Candlish J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Simply Lucky (5/2), His Dream (13/2), Boethius (13/2), Petrify (8/1), Visage Blanc (9/1), Gaelic Flow (10/1), Seven Nation Army (10/1), For Jim (14/1), Jonagold (16/1), Scorpion Star (20/1), The Last Melon (20/1), Sergio (25/1), Montycristo (33/1), Dyna Might (40/1)

There may be more to come fromSIMPLY LUCKY, who has won twice and been placed once from four starts for his new yard. This is a slightly tougher assignment but the gelding has a proven liming for this course and gest nod ahead of Boethius, who is on a roll for Richard Johnson and has to be feared as a live danger, while For Jim and Seven Nation Army are others that merit respect.