13:15 Wincanton

Thursday 22 November 2018

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:2015:55

Smith & Williamson Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 51.10s

Zubayr¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| CWS

6/4

Looked to be a useful hurdler as a juvenile (won a Grade 2 on debut for this yard) but has failed to win over hurdles since April 2016 despite being eased down the handicap. Now into a much lower grade than usual off the back of a wind op.

Form: 2208-47

Eragon De Chanay^v¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: N F Houlihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 129| D

2/1

Given a pro-active and very positive ride by this pilot when taking a boys race at Sandown; may have been given plenty of rope but used the advantage well. Could have been flattered but is 8lb well-in here and very dangerous if allowed to dominate.

Form: 4172-P1

Whatthebutlersaw²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: M D Grant| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 129

12/1

Has won three of his last five races with the defeats coming of the back of a long break and when outclassed at Cheltenham last time. Eased slightly in grade now but still has work to off a mark 9lb above his last winning one.

Form: 61/1-210

Romanor¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 123

8/1

Quick ground appears to suit him with the trio of wins he gained in the summer all coming on this sort of surface. Travels strongly in his races and would have been all at sea on heavy ground last time; could resume his progress here upped in trip.

Form: 513110

Mick Thonic^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Angus Cheleda⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117

13/2

Often flatters only to deceive and that has certainly been his way of late although he failed to dominate his field last time and that run could be excused. Not one to be absolving of too much though and still treated with caution.

Form: U54236

Here's Herbie^t¹⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 115

20/1

Losing run stretches back to the spring of 2016 (landed back-to-back handicaps) and although he's slipped well down the handicap his last few efforts have been below-par. Cheekpieces worn last time are now left off; best watched for now.

Form: F342-36

Thahab Ifraj²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 109

66/1

Despite a sound enough run last time on the Flat in a low-grade handicap his hurdles form has all come in more modest company than this. Looks best in this sphere when ridden positively and likely to face competition up front here.

Form: 21-4298

Non-Runners

Ruacana³⁹¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Zubayr (6/4), Eragon De Chanay (2/1), Mick Thonic (13/2), Romanor (8/1), Whatthebutlersaw (12/1), Ruacana (12/1), Here's Herbie (20/1), Thahab Ifraj (66/1)

Given the pace profile of this race it’s unlikely that the easy Sandown scorer Eragon De Chanay will be allowed to dominate here in the same way as he did last time out with Mick Thonic and Thahab Ifraj for company despite being 8lb well-in. There’s no doubting that Zubayr is well handicapped and having been given a wind operation and coming from the yard that have won this in the last two years he must be respected. ROMANOR looked progressive in the summer on quick ground and he gets a belated chance (in the year) to gain another win with the ground in his favour and his stable going well.