15:35 Warwick

Saturday 12 January 2019

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

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 59.10s

Blaklion³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 152| BF| D

12/1

Smart staying chaser who is back over hurdles for the first time in almost four years here. On a handy mark if he can return to better form, so can't be ruled out.

Form: 212BP-0

First Assignment⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 142| BF

2/1

Progressive Listed hurdle winner (3m, good). Beaten favourite when last seen, but still entitled to plenty of respect despite another 7lb rise.

Form: 413-113

Keeper Hill²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 139

5/1

Grade 2 winning chaser who has reverted to hurdles this season and ran well in a competitive Cheltenham event last time, when 3L second. 3lb higher here, but has claims.

Form: 1FFP-52

Holly Bush Henry^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: P W Middleton| OR: 135| D

10/1

Useful chaser last season, in and out lately. Pulled up over fences last time, but has each-way claims from this mark if bouncing back now reverting to hurdles.

Form: 56-962P

Notwhatiam^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

7/1

Had wind surgery before his first start for this trainer, winning twice at Uttoxeter since then. Another good effort behind a decent sort at Aintree last time. Form has been franked and he could go close from the same mark.

Form: 4-01F13

Oh Land Abloom^t,v1¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: J McGrath| T: N B King| OR: 131| D

33/1

Has been unable to complete on his last two starts over fences. Returns to hurdles 2lb higher than his 2L second at Uttoxeter when last seen over them in November. New headgear fitted. More needed.

Form: 07-42PR

Lungarno Palace⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128

5/1

Scored at Stratford (2m, good) in October. Improved on that on both his last two starts when stepped up to 2m5f (good) at Cheltenham. Nudged up another 1lb, but unexposed over hurdles and interesting up in trip.

Form: 13-2143

Malapie³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 125

33/1

Well held in this race on soft last year, though won on heavy at Leicester next time and has since scored over fences at Towcester (soft). Out of sorts in two runs this season and a bit to prove from 1lb 'wrong'.

Form: 3931-5P

Perfect Man^p,t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 124

7/1

Scored on his final run in Ireland and his first for this trainer at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) in August, when 12lb lower. Has looked exposed since and needs plenty more than on his last two runs from out of the handicap.

Form: 81-1385

Ritual Of Senses⁷⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 120

28/1

Dual good ground hurdling winner in 2016, but not seen since December of that year. Looks best watched on his return from 6lb 'wrong'.

Form: 811346/

Forecasts

First Assignment (2/1), Keeper Hill (5/1), Lungarno Palace (5/1), Notwhatiam (7/1), Perfect Man (7/1), Holly Bush Henry (10/1), Blaklion (12/1), Ritual Of Senses (28/1), Oh Land Abloom (33/1), Malapie (33/1)

Blaklion would be a popular winner on his return to hurdles, and he is well treated on his best form, but he hasn't been close to that over fences of late and preference is for NOTWHATIAM, whose latest run has worked out well. Keeper Hill looks likely to be a contender, with Lungarno Palace respected along with First Assignment.