12:50 Wincanton

Thursday 17 January 2019

All12:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:3516:10

Towergate Caravan Insurance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 25.30s

Mercenaire⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 125

10/1

Has competed at much higher levels than this. Not at his best lately and cheekpieces last time failed to galvanise him.

Form: 32P-754

Merry Milan¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 125| BF

14/1

Took a heavy fall over fences at Ascot in November and he has not produced his best since. Back over hurdles today off a mark that looks demanding.

Form: 61-2F47

Buywise¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 125| D

12/1

Popular veteran who scored at Sandown a year ago. In poor form over both sets of obstacles lately and looks a risky proposition.

Form: 0U-640F

Sandymount⁵⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 125| D

20/1

Looks more than capable of landing a race from this mark, but an 18 month absence suggests he may be one for another day unless the market indicates otherwise.

Form: 148/172-

Pilansberg^b,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124

11/2

Placed at Ascot off a 6lb higher mark in 2017 but two runs back from an absence show that he is a long way short of that level.

Form: 3219/00

Honest Vic²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J E Moore| T: H D Daly| OR: 122| BF

11/4

Well backed when runner-up at Ludlow last time. The winner has scored again and he must have every chance of going one better.

Form: 155-642

Myplaceatmidnight⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 121

9/2

Caught the eye here last time when noted staying on late under an amateur. That was his first run for seven months and he will not have to improve much in order to feature.

Form: 1/43-234

Pineapple Rush⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 119WS

11/2

Skilfully placed to win poor races last spring. Her first two efforts in handicaps suggest the handicapper may have assessed her too harshly. Has undergone wind surgery since her last run in October.

Form: 3211-50

Shillingsworth⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 109

12/1

Was in the process of outrunning big odds here last time before taking a heavy fall two out. Not without a chance having taking another drop in the weights, but his jumping clearly has room for improvement.

Form: 957-3FF

Away For Slates^h¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: M F Harris| OR: 107

100/1

Won a couple of hurdles for Keith Dalgleish when there was some ease in the ground, but was 0-8 for Dan Skelton and tailed off on both starts for this yard.

Form: 73P3P-0

Way Out West^h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: James Best| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107

12/1

Placed at Ludlow on penultimate start in lower grade but he did not look an easy ride. Beaten on soft ground since but will be happier on this surface.

Form: 610P26

Cotton Club²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 102

100/1

Would be dangerous on his summer form for previous yard but yet to shine under both codes for current trainer.

Form: 225440

Forecasts

Honest Vic (11/4), Myplaceatmidnight (9/2), Pineapple Rush (11/2), Pilansberg (11/2), Mercenaire (10/1), Way Out West (12/1), Shillingsworth (12/1), Buywise (12/1), Merry Milan (14/1), Sandymount (20/1), Cotton Club (100/1), Away For Slates (100/1)

The likes of Pilansberg, Mercenaire and Cotton Club have chances on their best form but are hard to recommend on what they have done lately. Sandymount would give a good account if ready after a long absence, whilst Pineapple Rush represents a yard that have a good record in this race. She has had wind surgery following two dismal runs in her first starts in handicap company. Shillingsworth will go close if none the worse for his latest lapse and if his jumping improves. HONEST VIC looks the most progressive of these and his latest run has been boosted since. He has most to fear from Myplaceatmidnight who produced an eyecatching run last time.