16:20 Wetherby

Wednesday 17 October 2018

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:5517:25

bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting 2nd & 3rd November Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 36.9s

Jacks Last Hope^v³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 140| C| D

10/1

Has been in good form over fences this summer and returns to this sphere just 1lb higher than his last winning handicap mark. Well suited to quick ground and has race fitness on his side over several of these.

Form: 7-12324

Notnow Seamus^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140

4/1

Has become something of a Uttoxeter specialist and arrives here on the back of an impressive victory there last month. Has been hit hard for that success and will need to improve again to defy this sort of handicap mark. Up in trip.

Form: P11121

Nautical Nitwit^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 139| C| D

11/1

Course winner who was impressive when bolting up at Cartmel in the summer. Disappointed from his revised mark at Perth last time though and has a bit to prove now. May have preferred softer ground.

Form: 15-6418

Monbeg Theatre^p,t¹⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 138| D

11/4

Arrives bidding for a belated hat-trick after wins at Cheltenham and Haydock towards the end of last season. Only 5lb higher for the latest success and quite possible there's more to come this season. Interesting front-runner.

Form: 2P231-1

Becky The Thatcher²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 125| C

16/1

Has been in good form on the Flat this season and she was a course winner over hurdles last season. Signs the handicapper had caught up with her towards the end of the last NH season and needs to prove she stays this far.

Form: 21/147P-

Lough Derg Farmer¹⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 125| D

7/2

Looked like an exciting prospect when winning two of his first four hurdles starts but completely lost his way last season. Has a bit to prove now on debut for new yard but quite possibly on a lenient mark if he returns to form.

Form: 21/P47-0

Lough Salt²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Aspell| T: R C Guest| OR: 114| CD

7/2

Both career wins have come over C&D, including this race last year. Seemingly saves his best for this course and he both handles these conditions, and finds himself on a workable mark.

Form: 467726

Non-Runners

Dubai Angel¹⁷³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: Ruth Jefferson J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Monbeg Theatre (11/4), Lough Salt (7/2), Lough Derg Farmer (7/2), Notnow Seamus (4/1), Dubai Angel (5/1), Jacks Last Hope (10/1), Nautical Nitwit (11/1), Becky The Thatcher (16/1)

A wide open contest in which a case can be made for the majority of the runners. Last year's winner of this, Lough Salt, may not have been in great form but a return to this course could spark a revival. MONGBEG THEATRE is preferred though as he arrives bidding for a hat-trick and he could be hard to peg back at a course that can favour front-runners. Notnow Seamus is clearly in good form while Jacks Last Hope will appreciate these conditions.