14:55 Market Rasen

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Rand Farm Park Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 5m 25.6s

Hard To Forget²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 100

3/1

Winning point-to-pointer who has hinted he can win a race in this sphere and has a workable mark for his handicap bow . Step up from 2m sure to help and may not be at all far away.

Form: F13-085

Court In Matera³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 100

25/1

Handicap debut for this Court Cave gelding who may improve for longer trip having failed to get involved in three starts in novice and maiden company to date.

Form: 2-0059

Dew Pond^b1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: C R King| T: T D Easterby| OR: 99

11/1

Won four times on the Flat at up to 2m so no surprise to see him struggling at that trip over timber. Extra half mile and first-time blinkers should suit now for shrewd yard that landed this race 12 months ago.

Form: 554

Let's Get At It^t1⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 99

8/1

Wears a first time tongue-tie having failed to catch any pigeons in five starts so far. A potential improver though now going handicapping for good yard and any market interest would be significant.

Form: 74-9659

Cock A Doodle Doo^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 97

8/1

Won Irish 2m maiden hurdle this August and best effort in three starts for new connections came over close to this trip at Hereford last month. 5lb lower now following tame effort back in trip last time but is definitely not out of it.

Form: 317467

Mrs Vonn¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 97

40/1

Poor point-to-pointer who has shown little in three starts over hurdles to date and looks up against it and seems to have her fair share of weight on handicap debut.

Form: PP-P567

Du Destin²⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 97WS

4/1

€70,000 purchase two seasons ago as unraced three-year-old but hasn't lived up to blling despite representing leading stable. Returns from wind surgery and much more needed but has been handed a tempting handicap mark.

Form: 09607-

Babytaggle^h²⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 96

14/1

Landed a point-to-point but is a maiden under Rules. Shown signs of a little ability and not disgraced when fifth of 16 at Chepstow in April. Not seen since, but decent amateur claims 7lb so worth a market check.

Form: UP5F75-

Picknick Park⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: N Kent| OR: 91

8/1

Has run with credit at this venue on a number of occasion but is a weak finisher and remains a maiden after 12 outings. Fair effort when fourth here on seasonal return last month but others make more appeal.

Form: 6/F46-64

Relight The Fire²⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Quinn| OR: 85

33/1

Placed in 3-4 bumpers three seasons ago but has been very lightly raced over hurdles since, showing little on most starts. Makes handicap bow and hard to know just how much ability he still retains.

Form: 35PP/95-

Fire Ahead⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85

4/1

Showed little in four starts last term and never figured in handicap here on seasonal return last month. Steps up in trip, drops 5lb, and hails from good yard so may be too early to give up on him just yet.

Form: P908P-9

Jaycols Star^b⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-10| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 84

20/1

Modest Flat maiden who hasn't shown a huge amount over timber despite a little early promise. Hampered by faller at Wetherby last time and is eased 2lb but others make far more appeal.

Form: 43P67

Oliver's Island^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 78

20/1

Showed a modicum of ability for Jamie Snowden last year . Pulled up on debut for current yard after long absence but did better in first-time blinkers here last time out. Not a complete no-hoper.

Form: 445/5-P5

Non-Runners

St Quintin³⁰

Weight: 10-1| Age: 8

T: M Walford J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Hard To Forget (3/1), Du Destin (4/1), Fire Ahead (4/1), Let's Get At It (8/1), Cock A Doodle Doo (8/1), Picknick Park (8/1), St Quintin (8/1), Dew Pond (11/1), Babytaggle (14/1), Oliver's Island (20/1), Jaycols Star (20/1), Court In Matera (25/1), Relight The Fire (33/1), Mrs Vonn (40/1)

A number of these may well improve for making their handicap debut here and the market should prove informative. COCK A DOODLE DO represents a top yard and should do better back up in trip off a falling mark. Given his connections it will be no surprise to see Du Destin suported but he has to show more following his wind op, and Hard To Forget, Dew Pond and Let's Get At It all have at least as good claims. Fire Ahead and Babytaggle are others worth a glance.