13:20 Wetherby

Friday 2 November 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:10

Biggest Ever Jumps Season On RacingUK Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 5m 11.25s

The Tangler Barry⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 107

9/2

Winning point-to-pointer, has shown ability over hurdles in three starts and now goes handicapping at a realistic level. Step back up in trip will help and the few horses the yard have run recently have gone well.

Form: 231-543

Ballyhome²⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: C Brace⁽⁸⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 106

6/4

First start for new yard (formerly with Brendan Powell), bets run coming on final start for yard when sent handicapping at Kempton, travelled well and stayed on nicely. Ground may be lively enough here but chances if fit.

Form: 68/5862-

Askari²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gregory| T: G Elliott| OR: 101| BF

5/1

Irish raider that had been continually sent off big prices until well backed at Bangor last time out, not beaten far over 3m and this drop back in trip will suit. Major player again for top yard and with ground no issue, is shortlisted.

Form: 006-003

Maybe Mickey¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Coltherd| T: S Waugh| OR: 100

20/1

Half-brother to useful hurdler/chaser Maybe Plenty and has shown ability on all three starts so far, not disgraced at Carlisle latest and this step up in trip sure to suit on handicap debut today. Not discounted.

Form: 965

Hermanus²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 100

12/1

Twice a winner on good ground in the summer but has a mind of her own and can look reluctant at times, as she did at Warwick latest. Well enough handicapped but a bit to prove now, not least suitability of this trip, and is passed over.

Form: 113055

My Escapade⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Mulqueen| T: S Waugh| OR: 99

40/1

Had been threatening to win races before her back-to-back successes in the spring but handicapper had his say after that and she found life a lot harder. Still looks high enough and may need this after a break.

Form: 7/3-1159

Northern Girl²⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 97

16/1

Would have won but for final hurdle fall here in February (heavy ground), didn't look the same horse after that but early days yet and she should be wining races this term. Likely to need this though, and ground may be lively enough for her too.

Form: 773F70-

Love At Dawn²⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: P D Niven| OR: 95

20/1

Sister to winning hurdler Wishmoor, who was best at around this sort of trip, showed little first four starts but much better effort at Newcastle on latest start when runner-up. Form of that weak, though, and different ground to contend with here.

Form: 07652-

Simply Lucky^t⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: R D Day| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 90

40/1

Was found a couple of weak handicaps in the summer (both over 3m) but handicapper has looked in charge since, although she's been far from disgraced. Likely to find this a bit on the sharp side and others are preferred.

Form: 141355

Mac Cennetig^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁸⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 85

16/1

Mark falling through the floor already after some very moderate effort sin handicaps and he shows no signs of being able to halt the slide. Hard to make any sort of case for.

Form: 6P-9880

Jaycols Star^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: Blair Campbell| T: P A Kirby| OR: 83

20/1

Third to the useful Cracker Factory at Aintree in May easily the highlight of his four hurdles starts so far but he looks moderate under all codes to date and will need to improve. Young enough to do so, but a leap of faith required here.

Form: 43P6

Starshell³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 83

150/1

Looks extremely moderate on all known evidence and although step into handicaps offers him a more realistic chance, simply appears to be regressing quickly.

Form: 9-59

Forecasts

Ballyhome (6/4), The Tangler Barry (9/2), Askari (5/1), Hermanus (12/1), Northern Girl (16/1), Mac Cennetig (16/1), Jaycols Star (20/1), Love At Dawn (20/1), Maybe Mickey (20/1), My Escapade (40/1), Simply Lucky (40/1), Starshell (150/1)

The ones towards the top of the handicap look the ones to concentrate on and ASKARI can get off the mark after a better effort (which the market clearly expected) at Bangor last time out. Ballyhome will have chances if the ground does not inconvenience him, and both handicap debutantes The Tangler Berry and Maybe Mickey are worth a look in the market.