16:20 Stratford

Thursday 23 August 2018

All13:3014:0514:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

Sims Financial Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 3m 59.50s

Hermosa Vaquera^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr George Gorman⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 100

5/1

Long time since she was since in this sphere and has won twice on the Flat since that outing off this mark at Fontwell. Given a spin on the Flat recently and that will have put her right for this; shortlist material.

Form: 31422/2-

Leader Of The Land^t³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr C Dowson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 98

14/1

Returned to the track after a five year absence last time (is a winning hurdler) but perhaps unsurprisingly showed very little. Hard to make a case for him here on the back of that modest (at best) run.

Form: F1/0

Zara's Reflection^h,t¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 95

14/1

Has made a very limited impact in this sphere so far finishing well held in all her hurdles starts. Now makes her handicap debut off what appears to be a stiff looking mark and others are much preferred.

Form: 970077-

Matravers^p1,t⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr A Hark⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 92

4/1

Given his Flat form his opening mark looks workable although he's as yet to show much over hurdles. Handicapping may see him in a better light though and he's one to watch in the market given his background.

Form: 975

Ataman^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 88

5/1

Yet to make any impact over hurdles but comes from a yard who are good at turning this sort around and the cheekpieces go on for the first time. Some of his Flat form would make him well handicapped in this and not written off.

Form: 5969P4-

St Peter's Square³¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Pippa Glanville⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 85| D

25/1

Had a rather inconsistent profile when trained in Ireland and has fared little better since moving to GB. Well beaten when last seen and hard to enthuse about given his overall record.

Form: P079P9-

Akkapenko⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 83

6/1

Successful on the Flat in France back in 2017 scoring on three occasions he's yet to make any impression over hurdles including on his handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces. Will have to improve for his second handicap try.

Form: 087-0

Ladies Dancing³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 77| D

5/2

Found some sort of form last time out off a career-low mark but that was in selling company (this isn't much better) and she's one of the more straightforward types in this. Can't be ruled out in a weak affair especially if prominently ridden.

Form: 98-4973

Non-Runners

Diamond Reflection²⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Miss H Welch

Forecasts

Ladies Dancing (5/2), Matravers (4/1), Hermosa Vaquera (5/1), Ataman (5/1), Akkapenko (6/1), Diamond Reflection (13/2), Leader Of The Land (14/1), Zara's Reflection (14/1), St Peter's Square (25/1)

This looks the weaker of the two divisions of this amateur riders handicap hurdle and Ladies Dancing is likely to be a popular choice given his run last time off a much-reduced mark, this race certainly provides him with a good chance of getting back on the winning trail. HERMOSA VAQUERA is just preferred though on the back of a recent Flat spin that will have put her just right for this the mark looking far from harsh. Matravers makes his handicap debut and on his Flat form he’s well handicapped and it won’t be a surprise to see him step forward on his handicap debut. Given his connections Ataman in first-time cheekpieces and off a reduced mark should be respected if support comes for him.