12:40 Warwick

Saturday 12 January 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Trial Racing TV For Free Now Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 3m 44.80s

Three Bullet Gate²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: C Poste| T: R Dickin| OR: 111

16/1

Showed a bit of promise in both a bumper and a couple of novices' hurdles. Out of his depth in a Grade 2 last time, and will need to improve to defy this initial mark.

Form: 3628

Incus³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: E De Giles| OR: 110| D

33/1

Stays 2m on soft ground on the Flat, where he won four times in 2017. Not a bad effort back over hurdles at Sedgefield last time, but needs a fair bit of improvement on that bare form to oblige from this mark on his handicap debut.

Form: 49-8

Sensible Friend⁹⁹

8/1

Has some respectable hurdles form but has been unable to really kick on. May be able to do so following wind surgery. Can go well when fresh, so check the market for clues.

Form: 4-44225

Sammylou^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 105

25/1

Has so far been unable to build on the promise of a Sandown bumper run from last season, since going hurdling. Slipping to a more feasible mark now, but not easy to make a strong case for him on recent evidence.

Form: 9P8-500

Texan Nomad^h⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: R Harris| OR: 105

3/1

Produced a significantly better effort last time when a 3L winner under a 5lb claimer at Wincanton (2m, good). Up 7lb for that, but may be more to come and is entitled to make the short-list.

Form: 445491

Wenceslaus³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T J Phelan| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 103| BF| D

25/1

Scored at both Plumpton (2m, good to firm) and Uttoxeter (2m, good) in the autumn, the latter from 7lb lower. Well below that form in a 0-125 at Leicester last time, but not ruled out now back in this grade.

Form: 0-73115

Star of Rory^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 101

10/1

Scored over 7f (soft) on his 2016 Flat debut for Tom Dascombe. Not a bad effort on his second hurdles run at Bangor last month. Below that level last time, but gets in on a fair mark here. Not written off.

Form: 049

Dyliev^h³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 99| BF

9/1

Has twice looked the potential winner over hurdles, only to find little after racing keenly. 1lb drop won't harm, and if she can relax for the refitting of a hood here, she would certainly have claims.

Form: 53-8482

Percy Prosecco⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner| T: Noel Williams| OR: 110| D

7/1

Scored on debut over hurdles at Huntingdon (2m, good) in October, but that form took one or two knocks before he was well held at Warwick last time, under a penalty. Initial mark looks on the stiff side, but not ruled out.

Form: 14

Spader^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss L V Davis| OR: 91| D

66/1

Scored at Southwell in May (2m, good), when 3lb lower and with Dan Skelton. A reproduction of that would give him claims, but he has plenty to prove after his two runs for this trainer,

Form: 0-15804

Mercer's Troop²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 100

9/4

Kempton maiden winner (1m4f, AW) this time last year for Archie Watson. Has improved with each hurdles run since joining this yard. Decent effort when 5L second on hurdles debut, and has claims from the same mark.

Form: 0772

Boutan³⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 87

50/1

Has won a maiden and three sellers on the Flat, where she is rated 58. 0-11 over hurdles, but looks up against it after a year off, unless she can reproduce her penultimate effort.

Form: 5/86026-

Forecasts

Mercer's Troop (9/4), Texan Nomad (3/1), Percy Prosecco (7/1), Sensible Friend (8/1), Dyliev (9/1), Star of Rory (10/1), Three Bullet Gate (16/1), Wenceslaus (25/1), Sammylou (25/1), Incus (33/1), Boutan (50/1), Spader (66/1)

Incus and Sensible Friend both represent stables better known for their exploits on the Flat, but neither can be ruled out here and the latter makes greater appeal on paper. Texan Nomad, Dyliev and Wenceslaus are others of interest, but preference is for MERCER'S TROOP, who is taken to find a bit of improvement for a decent hurdles debut.