15:55 Wincanton

Wednesday 27 February 2019

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:00

Dot Tolson Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 3m 46.7s

Passing Dream^h⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 102

16/1

Requires patient handling and won on a sound surface at Towcester. Best performance since came on good ground at Uttoxeter before a dismal effort pre-empted a layoff.

Form: 1UF420

Stolberg⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 100

50/1

Suited to more testing ground and beaten 34L in a Market Rasen seller when last seen on Boxing Day.

Form: P4943-3

Ted Bach¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 98

6/1

Back to his best on stable debut two weeks ago when winning with more authority than the margin suggests. Has done well to escape with a 5lb rise in an equally poor race.

Form: 41-5901

Brunel Woods^t1⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Bargary| T: David Dennis| OR: 98

12/1

Showed ability in bumpers and although hurdling form amounts to little, could do better now handicapping in first time tongue tie.

Form: 733/2-08

Another Go³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R J Smith| OR: 97

16/1

Has been on the wane since winning two Flat races on testing ground in 2016. Outclassed on recent hurdles starts but still hard to be convinced he retains enough ability to be a threat.

Form: 3-7P0

Duc Kauto^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 95| BF

6/1

Impressive on second handicap start at Plumpton in similar company. Found to be lame and to have burst a blood vessel last time and one of the leading contenders for a bad race despite those concerns.

Form: U6581P

Ali The Hunter²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 95

20/1

Handicapper has judged her literally on a flattering third to Posh Trish on Boxing day. Tailed off both starts since and now makes handicap debut in basement grade. Runners from this yard usually warrant a market check and she is no different.

Form: 43-305

The Major^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 93

11/1

Dual Flat winner whose sole effort of note over hurdles came over C&D on a sound surface last May off the same mark. Possible to make a case judged on that effort although latest run was a new low.

Form: 46-284P

Vanderbilt³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 93

11/1

30-race maiden but has each-way claims judged on his latest effort and a prior Worcester third to Sofia's Rock.

Form: 337804

Micras^b,t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 91

8/1

Sole hurdles win from 20 attempts was in Ireland in 2015 (soft). Has run well at this level in two of her last three starts and stable have just ended a prolonged barren spell. Better ground may help her reverse latest placings with Ifandbut.

Form: F07272

Ifandabut³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 90

9/2

Hit a flat spot before reeling in Micras at Exeter last time. Closely matched with that mare here but this quicker ground and easier track should tilt this in his rival's favour.

Form: 098-001

I'll Be Your Clown¹⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: S D Dixon| OR: 89

40/1

Won for Dan Skelton in March 2017 but has shown next to nothing for current yard despite tumbling handicap mark.

Form: 9P79-90

Hot Smoked^p1⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 89

16/1

No show in three starts over hurdles, but a bumper run here on good ground is cause for optimism off a mark as low as this.

Form: 6-50P6

Sadma⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Pte Alexandra Bell⁽⁷⁾| T: N Lampard| OR: 88| CD

25/1

Without a win since scoring here in 2015 and few signs lately that another trip to the champagne bar is imminent.

Form: 83PU78

Kristjano^t1³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 83

10/1

19-race maiden who has been struggling of late. Tongue-tie applied here but doubtful that alone is going to be sufficient.

Form: 60/56-00

Kahdian^b,t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 76

10/1

Has been thereabouts and running respectably of late. Could make the frame, but with a record of 0-35, he is a bold bet for win punters

Form: U54326

Call Sign Charlie¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: B Barr| OR: 69

66/1

Held by a few of these on current form and faces a huge task from 5lb out of the weights.

Form: U6P667

Top Of The Rocks^t,v³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 69

33/1

Sole success came in a selling handicap on the Flat in August 2016. Probably best watched having shown little on return.

Form: 27588-0

Forecasts

Ifandabut (9/2), Ted Bach (6/1), Duc Kauto (6/1), Micras (8/1), Kristjano (10/1), Kahdian (10/1), Vanderbilt (11/1), The Major (11/1), Brunel Woods (12/1), Hot Smoked (16/1), Passing Dream (16/1), Another Go (16/1), Ali The Hunter (20/1), Sadma (25/1), Top Of The Rocks (33/1), I'll Be Your Clown (40/1), Stolberg (50/1), Call Sign Charlie (66/1)

Brunel Woods and Hot Smoked are interesting given their bumper form as they make their handicap debuts. Both should be checked in the market as should Johnny Farrelly's Ali The Hunter.Ifandbut had Micras behind in second when scoring at Exeter, but on these terms and with conditions more favourable to the latter, then Matt Shephard's mare should fare better this time. Duc Kauto was impressive when scoring in similar company at Plumpton and there were legitimate excuses last time. However, TED BACH has responded well to a change of surroundings and did remarkably well to escape with a 5lb rise for his easy Plumpton win.