14:40 Wincanton

Saturday 5 January 2019

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

Lengthen The Odds With BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 16.08s

Bhutan¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: W T Kennedy| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131

33/1

First start for Jonjo O'Neill after never really achieving what he was thought capable of for Joseph O'Brien. Still early days though, so new yard could yet find the key to him, and conditions fine here. Watch market for a clue.

Form: 65-472P

Magoo^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126

10/1

Just held on to win a Fontwell handicap in March and connections wasted little lime getting him over fences at Sandown in December, but fell mid-race. Hard to know what to expect back over hurdles but unepxosed and with top yard, so not ruled out.

Form: 1/1-F

Tedham²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125

4/1

Has improved on each of his three hurdles starts and latest second to Getaway Trump given a form boost when winner an excellent second in the Challow Hurdle last week. Looks a major player on handicap debut here.

Form: 3-432

Kk Lexion²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 124| CD

8/1

Fully exposed over hurdles and although there's the odd piece of form that makes him look well enough treated here, tends to finish his races off weakly and that's an obvious concern here. Others make more appeal.

Form: 830-453

Wicked Willy^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123

8/1

Seems to have enjoyed the switch back to hurdles and turned in best effort for a while when third at Cheltenham last time out. Nudged up a pound for that but this is a step down the grading ladder and he'll be finishing well. Not out of it.

Form: 14FP-53

Timoteo²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 122

25/1

0-15 under all codes so far, showed ability a couple of years ago but came back from a long absence in a hot race at Ascot last month and didn't shown enough to think he'll be taking a hand in the finish here.

Form: 55242/8

Bradford Bridge¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Stefan Kirwan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121

33/1

Twice a winner in the autumn in lower grade but has been found in in two starts since, looking less than cooperative at times. Looks to be biting plenty off again here and plenty of questions to answer now.

Form: 621189

Wallace Spirit^p⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 119

16/1

Of interest simply as a lightly raced individual from a top yard, but might have already developed his own ideas about the game and connections already go for headgear here. Clear form chances but not one for the mortgage, for sure.

Form: 7P7F2-3

Earlofthecotswolds²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 119

9/1

Twice a winner already, a bumper and on latest hurdles start but in truth made hard work of it at Carlisle (at very short odds) and opening hurdles mark far from a gimme. Will appreciate this step up in trip though, so may do better again.

Form: 3-1621

Dark Episode²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 119| D

9/1

Looked to need every yard of the trip at Leicester last time out, sticking to the task better than his rivals, and will appreciate a good gallop here. Still quite green and a likely improver, and with the champion on board, should go well.

Form: 331

Marten^b1⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 117

16/1

Looked a horse to follow when an easy winner at Southwell back in 2017 but it's all gone west since then, and having pulled up last two starts, connections give headgear a try. Looks more in hope than anything, though, and is very risky.

Form: 10/16P-P

Tight Call⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117

7/1

Hard to knock given he's already a winner of a bumper and a hurdle, but they were pretty moderate affairs, in truth, and this opening handicap mark is stiff enough. Yard form is far from where you'd like it to be too, and others make more appeal.

Form: P3112

Gulshanigans^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: Jack Barber| OR: 116

7/1

0-11 to date but not without interest, given he showed he retains plenty of ability after finishing second on first start for his new yard over C&D last time out. Up a couple of pounds but conditions clearly no issue and may have more to offer.

Form: 52239/2

Gallic Destiny^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 107

100/1

Came back off a very long absence to run respectably at Ludlow in November, very well handicapped if you go back far enough but might still find this a bit tough. Not a complete no-hoper with the tongue tie back on, but others preferred.

Form: 166P9/5

Forecasts

Tedham (4/1), Tight Call (7/1), Gulshanigans (7/1), Wicked Willy (8/1), Kk Lexion (8/1), Earlofthecotswolds (9/1), Dark Episode (9/1), Magoo (10/1), Marten (16/1), Wallace Spirit (16/1), Timoteo (25/1), Bradford Bridge (33/1), Bhutan (33/1), Gallic Destiny (100/1)

Plenty try their luck but this can probably be whittled down to just a handful. Gulshanigans looks an obvious enough starting point after a good effort over C&D last time out and he really should be taking some prize money home, but TEDHAM ran a stormer against one that went on to finish second in the classy Challow Hurdle, and that form looks very solid indeed. He can get off the mark .Dark Episode looked a thorough stayer at Leicester and will appreciate this test, and the likes of Bhutan, Magoo and Wallace Spirit all warrant a second look, coming as they do from big yards.