13:00 Wetherby

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:0012:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Watch Racing TV Now Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:02 | Winning time: 5m 12.40s

Dorking Cock²²

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Johns| T: T Lacey| OR: 112

9/2

Has shown some promise in novice/maiden company. Handled soft in his bumper. Initial mark looks stiff enough, but in good hands and it is likely that he can begin to improve now.

Form: 4-377

Mance Rayder^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 110

20/1

Has shown ability over hurdles, both for Philip Hobbs and in two Sedgefield starts for this trainer. Won a bumper on soft. 4lb drop will help. Should not be far away.

Form: PP4-P23

Putting Green⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110

8/1

Dual Flat winner for Richard Hannon at up to 1m4f, and showed he handles testing ground, despite being winless for Venetia Williams. Well held on debut for this trainer, but interesting now upped in trip, with 2lb drop.

Form: 44724/8

No Getaway⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 108

5/2

Has shown bits of promise so far, but initial mark looks stiff based on what we have seen. Plenty of stamina in his pedigree, however, so may be able to raise his game now stepped up in trip. Stable does well at this track.

Form: 55-488

Hello Bertie²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 106

12/1

Placed in a couple of bumpers in spring 2017. Encouraging effort on handicap debut in May. Returns after seven-month break from 2lb lower and upped in trip. Bit to prove on soft, but not ruled out.

Form: 3/3257-7

Twotwothree^h²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R D Day| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 105| D

5/1

Soft ground point-to-point winner over 2m4f this time last year. Showed ability in bumpers, but yet to eclipse that over hurdles. Now makes handicap debut from a mark that looks reasonable and upped in trip. Market check.

Form: 224-977

Diocese²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 105

10/1

Triple French bumper winner, including on soft. Well beaten in both hurdles starts for this trainer and initial mark looks stiff for this handicap debut.

Form: 112343

Ulysses^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Bargary| T: F Brennan| OR: 104

28/1

Third (beaten 21L) in last season's Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham. Well beaten both starts since, including recent reappearance. If that run has helped, he could be competitive again here from 5lb lower.

Form: 4235-8

Definite Wisdom²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 104

33/1

Held or well held in all three runs in novice events. Initial mark looks very stiff based on that, and can only watch in a potentially competitive heat.

Form: 52-864

Art Of Supremacy³³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 102

20/1

Not beaten far over C&D in this race last year, when fresh and 3lb higher, but was pulled up and dismounted on only start since. 10lb claim not to be dismissed lightly. Interesting.

Form: 37/9P4P-

Leopard^h,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Cook| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 100

40/1

14-race maiden under both codes, and begins handicap hurdling from what looks a very tough mark.

Form: 5F6

Northern Girl³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 97

7/1

Ran well when beaten 8L into second from this mark over 2m5½f (good) here on her reappearance last month. Disappointed at Uttoxeter last time. More needed, but not ruled out of the money.

Form: 3F70-20

Wishing Well¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 91

33/1

Stays marathon trips on the Flat, but yet to get competitive over hurdles in six attempts. Drops 5lb here, but would be causing an upset if she proved good enough to win.

Form: 645/90P

Surrender⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: Lucy Alexander| T: T D Easterby| OR: 99

33/1

Same mark here as when thrashed at Carlisle over a similar trip last time. Not easy to make a case for him.

Form: 4449B5

Forecasts

No Getaway (5/2), Dorking Cock (9/2), Twotwothree (5/1), Northern Girl (7/1), Putting Green (8/1), Diocese (10/1), Hello Bertie (12/1), Mance Rayder (20/1), Art Of Supremacy (20/1), Ulysses (28/1), Definite Wisdom (33/1), Surrender (33/1), Wishing Well (33/1), Leopard (40/1)

A tricky race for punters, with several runners who look likely to have the potential to win this. Dorking Cock is one of those, now going handicapping, while Putting Green is saddled by last year's winning trainer and has to be respected. Others of interest include, No Getaway, Hello Bertie, Twotwothree and Ulysses, while Northern Girl and Mance Rayder could also make an impact. However, ART OF SUPREMACY ran well in this race last year when fresh, is 3lb lower here and has a very attractive-looking 10lb claimed, so he is suggested.