12:30 Wincanton

Saturday 5 January 2019

All12:3013:0513:3514:0514:4015:1515:50

Best Odds Guaranteed With BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:32 | Winning time: 3m 39.92s

Unsafe Conduct^t⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 110

7/1

Successful in lower grade at Newton Abbot last summer, hasn't shaped badly in two starts since and only gave best late in the day at Warwick last time out. May come on for that and has chances in an open contest.

Form: 675-165

Away For Slates^h²⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: M F Harris| OR: 109

50/1

On a very good mark on the best of his form but some while since he's shown any of that, and the fact he was beaten at very short odds last March at Wetherby only goes to show he's not one to trust. Makes little appeal here.

Form: 673P3P-

Desiremoi D'Authie¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 109

4/1

Proving a little frustrating, as the ability to win a race of this nature is clearly there, but needs to dig in better at the business end and finish his races off stronger. Chances on his C&D fourth last time out anyway, so has to be considered.

Form: 552P34

Working Class¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 109

14/1

Got a race in the stewards room at Fakenham last time but form of that not done any favours by the second earlier in the week. Nevertheless, a 3lb rise fair and he is at least going the right way, so not discounted.

Form: 5U-2671

Present Destiny¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 107

16/1

0-12 to date and having first start for new yard here, having previously been with Seamus Mullins. Not seen out since last July and likely to need the run anyway, so only of interest if there's market support.

Form: 45P-355

Midnight Midge^h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Hodges| OR: 107| CD

4/1

Made every yard of the running to win over C&D last time out (and clocked a decent speed figure in the process), Drip in trip and forcing tactics seemed to work the oracle so from just 5lb higher here, every chance of repeating the dose.

Form: 69-3481

Darwins Theory^t³¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 105

66/1

Just two wins in 36 starts ab obvious enough start point when looking at him as a possible winner, has ability and conditions fine but absence to overcome and all in all, not hard to look elsewhere given that moderate win record.

Form: 3234/33-

Stormingin¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 104

10/1

Lightly raced over hurdles and open to improvement, showed first real signs of ability when third on handicap debut at Fakenham last time out, and possible this track will suit him better. Can't be ruled out with another step forward possible.

Form: 0-403

Catchin Time²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: L Hurley| OR: 100

9/1

Model of consistency over the past months but has found pushing his head in front difficult, twice mugged on the line at Uttoxeter (a track he goes well at) last summer. Might be high enough in the handicap now, so may be playing for places again.

Form: 322323

Texan Nomad^h³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: R Harris| OR: 98

20/1

Only had the five starts, so open to improvement, but he'll need it on what he has shown to date. Best effort came at Huntingdon last October, which at least shows conditions here should be fine, but a risky proposition.

Form: 5-44549

Sadma¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: N Lampard| OR: 92| CD

33/1

Two wins in 18 starts, one of those coming here back in 2015 and indeed that was the last time he saw the winners enclosure. Going nowhere quickly at the moment but at least the return to better ground and a track he likes may help.

Form: P-83PU7

Truckers Tangle²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 91

8/1

Placed in a few moderate point-to-points and showed first signs of real form over hurdles when second at Taunton last time out, staying on well late. Every chance if building on that, despite a 4lb rise from the handicapper.

Form: 6550P-2

Powerful Society⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 86

25/1

Has shown no more that spits and spots of ability over hurdles so far, but at least this is a more realistic opportunity for her and she does get plenty of allowances as a 4yo filly. Some while since the yard had a winner though, which is a worry.

Form: 05U25

Fire Ahead¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85

12/1

Not shown a lot in six starts so far but not unbacked when falling at Market Rasen last time out. Good jockey booking for a yard that know the time of day, and more interesting than a few, especially with market support.

Form: 908P-9F

Mr Magill^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 75

50/1

Shown next to nothing in a handful of starts so far and hard to make any sort of a case for. Yard can land a gamble so worth a quick glance in the market, but still hard to see him being good enough.

Form: 00P0-8P

Forecasts

Desiremoi D'Authie (4/1), Midnight Midge (4/1), Unsafe Conduct (7/1), Truckers Tangle (8/1), Catchin Time (9/1), Stormingin (10/1), Fire Ahead (12/1), Working Class (14/1), Present Destiny (16/1), Texan Nomad (20/1), Powerful Society (25/1), Sadma (33/1), Mr Magill (50/1), Away For Slates (50/1), Darwins Theory (66/1)

Midnight Midge will no doubt try and make all the running again, just as he did when successful here last time out, and if allowed too much rope on the front end, will have chances of following up. Desiremoi D'Authie will be dangerous if he can find a bit more in the finish, which hasn't always been the case so far, but a chance is taken on FIRE AHEAD, who wouldn't be an obvious candidate on what he's achieved so far but was quietly fancied last time, and represents a yard that know the time of day in these events. It'll be a surprise if we've seen the best of him.