14:45 Wetherby

Wednesday 26 December 2018

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

Watch Irish Racing On RacingTV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 27.7s

Sakhee's City^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 129

33/1

Goes well here and acts on testing ground. Has won over 2m3½f, but yet to do so over this far. Bit to prove then, but has won from this mark, so entitled to plenty of respect.

Form: 401-606

Dubai Angel¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 129

10/1

Trip and ground won't be a problem for this bumper and dual novice hurdle winner, who is 2lb higher than his last win. Well held both runs so far this term, so has a bit to prove.

Form: 1/332-99

Bordeaux Bill²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 127| C

6/1

Won a 3m novices' chase at this meeting last year (soft), and followed up in a jumpers' bumper. Not a bad effort over 2m3½f here last month, but disappointed at Bangor last time.

Form: 211P-45

Sky Khan^p,t¹³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 126| D

20/1

Without a win for over three years, but ran well from 1lb lower when last seen at Perth in August. Won on soft on the Flat, but best hurdles form on faster ground. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 72-3FP2

Neachells Bridge⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

9/2

Came good at Hereford (2m3½f, good) last time, but has gone up 10lb for that. Further significant improvement needed. Can't rule him out, as going the right way, but has a bit to prove on soft ground.

Form: 2453-51

Becky The Thatcher^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 125| C

6/1

Won here over 2m3½f (soft) last season, when 3lb lower and twice won over 2m1f on the Flat in the summer. Super effort when going close from this mark at Haydock last time. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 47P-642

Quest For Life^p1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 124

11/1

Has not looked the toughest of customers, but did get off the mark at the 10th attempt at Hexham (2m4f, good) in May, when 4lb lower. Below that level both starts this term, and has a bit to prove in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 223-105

Blottos¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 124

12/1

2lb higher here than when scoring at Carlisle (2m3½f, heavy) on his handicap debut in February. Not far off that form over fences at Hexham last month and not written off now back in this discipline.

Form: 1PP-03P

Tyrell²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 123

50/1

Has won 3-10 over hurdles, including over 3m½f when 4lb lower at Ayr (good) in May. Well held on his reappearance/stable debut, however, and has a bit to prove after that, as well as on genuine soft ground.

Form: 8144-16

Teescomponents Lad³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 120| BF

6/1

Heavy ground Catterick novice winner (2m3½f) in January. Has run with credit both starts in handicaps this season. May be more to come over this trip and probably has each-way claims.

Form: 1334-23

Presence Felt¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 118| C

14/1

Won a 3m handicap hurdle here when 4lb lower, two years ago. Added firther win at Perth in May. Ran well here again (3m, soft) last time, but 1lb upward nudge will require a require best if he is to win again.

Form: 4/9-1063

Pure Science¹¹³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 118

20/1

All four wins have been on soft or heavy ground, and he stays 3m. Wide margin success at Uttoxeter last time, but that was over three years ago. Has won when fresh, however, and it may be foolish to write him off.

Form: 141F41/

Miss Spent^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117

15/2

Arrives seeking a hat-trick after wins at Southwell and Doncaster (both around 3m on good). 6lb rise is less of a concern than soft ground (handled heavy once, but has it to prove on soft). Enters calculations nonetheless.

Form: P69511

Chicoria²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 115| D

12/1

Won at both Ayr and Kelso on testing ground in the spring, but hat-trick bid saw him well held on reappearance in a better race at Carlisle recently. Should appreciate drop in grade and no surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: 75411-6

Non-Runners

The Vocalist¹³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: K Dalgleish J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Neachells Bridge (9/2), Teescomponents Lad (6/1), Bordeaux Bill (6/1), Becky The Thatcher (6/1), Miss Spent (15/2), Dubai Angel (10/1), Quest For Life (11/1), Blottos (12/1), Chicoria (12/1), The Vocalist (12/1), Presence Felt (14/1), Sky Khan (20/1), Pure Science (20/1), Sakhee's City (33/1), Tyrell (50/1)

Another race that should be hotly contested, with top weight Sakhee's City respected, the improving Neachells Bridge a potential player if handling the ground and similar comments applying to Miss Spent. Cases can be made for Blottos, Becky The Thatcher and Teescomponents Lad, but it could pay to side with bottom weight CHICORIA, who should be better for his reappearance and may be able to handle this grade, with conditions to suit.