17:10 Wincanton

Saturday 16 February 2019

All13:1013:4514:2015:0015:3016:0516:3517:10

Read Kayley Woollacott On Betway Blog Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:11 | Winning time: 5m 29.70s

Waiheke^p1⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: L Heard| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 112

13/2

Lightly-raced sort and relishes some cut in the ground, held up last time at Sandown and seemingly coming with a challenge when blundered second last and faded. Can do better than that.

Form: 1424-67

It's For Alan^h⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Davies| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 110

16/1

Point-to-point winner in Ireland, though has plenty to find now making his handicap debut having shown nothing of note in maiden/novice hurdles so far.

Form: UP1-369

Demon Fou^h1¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: J Scott| OR: 109

15/2

Taunton winner in November (2m3f, good) and backed that up when second next time at Fakenham. Seemingly a non-stayer over 3m in one run since (keen early) and may bounce back in first-time hood.

Form: 99125

Flo'sboy Sam^b³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Godfrey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 108| CD

12/1

Won after having a wind op in May last year over C&D (previous form very dubious) and has produced a rather mixed bag since then over fences and hurdles. Shaped well enough over hurdles (back from a break) last time; but not one to trust implicitly.

Form: RP-1546

Magic River⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 107

33/1

Was returning from a long layoff when tailed off at Taunton in December on handicap/ stable bow. Can only be watched here as a result.

Form: 2165/3-0

Zee Man³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: David Dennis| OR: 107

12/1

Bits of promise in maiden/novice hurdles, though surely must find plenty improvement if hoping for a winning start in handicaps here.

Form: 520-P57

Soulsaver^t⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 107

13/2

Two-time Fontwell winner (2m3f-2m5f+) last season, that form isn't the strongest but ran good race (second) at Hereford (2m3½f, good to soft) on return and in the mix here despite having gone up another 3lb for his troubles.

Form: 361-742

Shillingsworth³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Angus Cheleda⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 106

10/1

Failed to complete in two of his last three races but has on occasions looked capable of better if his jumping holds up. Tried over 3m+ last time out (failed to stay); back in trip here with a chance but has yet to win a race.

Form: 57-3FF7

Southfield Torr⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 104

15/2

Some promising novice form but flopped here on Boxing Day when attempting a handicap for the first time. Stepped back up in distance and likely can do much better than he showed at Christmas.

Form: 34-4220

Mauna Kea^v³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Gundry| OR: 104

15/2

Transformed by a visor to run away with two low grade handicaps on differing ground at Taunton (3m, good) and Exeter (2m5½f, heavy) in December. Pulled up last month at Plumpton, eased a pound here and not a shock to see him going well.

Form: 76511P

Crossley Tender²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Best| T: P Henderson| OR: 103

12/1

Getting the hang of things lately in pair of maiden/novice starts at Fontwell from 2m1½f-2m3f. Goes handicapping from a fair mark and one to note in the betting.

Form: F13034

Ruby Yeats^v³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 102

15/2

Handicapper is giving her a chance and addition of a visor appeared to begin turning events around at Plumpton last time. Her attitude was certainly better than before; needs to show she can repeat that performance before she's of maximum interest.

Form: PP9-733

Steel Express³¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 100

10/1

12-race maiden, was bang out of form when last spotted at Exeter in April and hard to be enthusiastic on seasonal bow.

Form: 03972P-

Mr Magill^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 73

16/1

Unplaced in nine starts over timber and hasn't shown enough to merit suggestion that sequence will break from out of the weights here.

Form: 0-8P055

Forecasts

Soulsaver (13/2), Waiheke (13/2), Ruby Yeats (15/2), Mauna Kea (15/2), Demon Fou (15/2), Southfield Torr (15/2), Shillingsworth (10/1), Steel Express (10/1), Crossley Tender (12/1), Flo'sboy Sam (12/1), Zee Man (12/1), Mr Magill (16/1), It's For Alan (16/1), Magic River (33/1)

A puzzler to finish the card and perhaps CROSSLEY TENDER has been let in on a fair mark for his first crack at a handicap. He has been showing potential lately around Fontwell and could take a step forward here for a trainer with two winners from his last five runners. Plenty have claims, with Demon Fou likely better suited back down in trip sporting new headgear and Southfield Torr surely better than he showed here at Christmas. Waiheke paid for a late mistake last time and might get much closer while Soulsaver completes a lengthy shortlist.