14:05 Wincanton

Thursday 6 December 2018

All12:2513:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:40

Hookey Ham Patrick Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 3m 38.00s

Lord Napier^t²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 130

20/1

Won three of six starts over hurdles last term culminating in a decent sixth in the valuable Swinton hurdle at Haydock. Same mark here (9lb higher than last win) but starts new campaign with plenty of scope for further improvement.

Form: 51161-6

Arthington²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 129

20/1

Three-time novice hurdle winner has yet to make the frame in three handicap starts. Two runs this campaign seen him beaten 35L and 28L so latest 2lb fall not enough to recommend him.

Form: 1203-50

Dino Velvet²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 129

14/1

Raised 9lb for Ayr handicap win and struggled next when fourth of seven beaten 10L at Newton Abbot. Not obviously well handicapped for return so unsurprising he appears stable second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 55051-4

Snapdragon Fire¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 128

5/1

Two Huntingdon wins this season with a pulled-up at Cheltenham in between. 4lb rise for latest 2L success not unfair and merits respect once again here with champion jockey back on board.

Form: 324-1P1

Minellaforleisure¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 121| C

16/1

Previous C&D winner albeit way back in 2013. Only won once since so strike rate pretty ordinary but ran best race for quite some time latest when 2½L third to Snapdragon Fire at Huntingdon. 4lb better off now but younger rival is improving.

Form: 6/75-893

Our Merlin²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 120

11/2

Had a profitable 17/18 season landing a hat-trick and placing the next twice before finally running below par. May have needed return this season but latest 10L third at Newbury a better effort and gets 3lb back now so has each-way potential.

Form: 1235-03

Jaboticaba²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 117

17/2

French hurdles scorer got his head in front for the first time for these connections latest only to be disqualified and placed second. Should improve for that run given it came after a break so can overcome 3lb rise and go close here.

Form: 126-35D

Darling Maltaix^h⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117| BF

2/1

French bumper winner now 0-9 for this yard although went close on return at Taunton when second and possibly went too soon there when travelling like a winner. 5lb higher here but still lightly raced and suspect he will improve this season.

Form: F92-342

The Premier Celtic⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 115

9/1

Plumpton maiden hurdle winner failed to build on that last term and weakened quite rapidly on return at Fontwell when eighth of 11 beaten 17L. Can improve now with fitness boosted but career best needed.

Form: 7516F-8

Shillingsworth¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 110

20/1

Maiden of seven starts has shown some ability along the way. Fell at the fourth on his handicap debut back in July and off since. Best days likely still ahead but evidence so far not compelling.

Form: 5957-3F

Borak^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 110| BF| CD

20/1

Firm ground C&D winner on penultimate start finished second next at Taunton on a similar surface. Considerably higher mark than three previous handicap wins now but seems to be on the up so should still be competitive if as happy on this ground.

Form: 113612

Un Beau Roman^h¹⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: P Henderson| OR: 106

80/1

Over two years now since his last win and over five since the last over hurdles. Remote thirds and fourths in small fields to end last campaign someway short of the required so hard to fancy first time out.

Form: 50584-3

Forecasts

Darling Maltaix (2/1), Snapdragon Fire (5/1), Our Merlin (11/2), Jaboticaba (17/2), The Premier Celtic (9/1), Dino Velvet (14/1), Minellaforleisure (16/1), Lord Napier (20/1), Borak (20/1), Arthington (20/1), Shillingsworth (20/1), Un Beau Roman (80/1)

It may pay to chance LORD NAPIER despite the fact this will be his first run this season. Peter Bowen's five-year-old had an excellent and progressive novice campaign and could have more to come now after a summer break to strengthen up. Jaboticaba was disqualified for hanging into the path of a rival last time out but that still represented an improved effort so he is feared as is Darling Maltaix who possibly got there too soon at Taunton latest after travelling like a winner for a long while.