13:40 Wincanton

Thursday 7 March 2019

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5517:30

starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 13.60s

Hold Me Tight^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: James Best| T: P Gundry| OR: 100

66/1

19-race maiden returned from a 424 day absence when pulled up over 2m5f here latest. Beaten some way from home there so even if he comes on for the run it's hard to be confident.

Form: 625-P

Darwins Theory^t⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 100

33/1

Not won since 2015 and lightly raced these days. In rear throughout on return here (2m) in January and evidence on the whole far from compelling.

Form: 234/33-0

Grey Atlantic Way^t¹³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: E Linehan| OR: 99

11/1

Rare runner on these shores for a trainer who is 1-55 over past five seasons. This gelding has promised to add to the tally and has been found a poor race on return from a five month absence.

Form: 0-40303

Pemberley⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 99

3/1

Remote fourth latest at Plumpton probably gives him a squeak off this opening handicap mark but looked likely to appreciate this longer trip so improvement is now very possible for highly respected yard.

Form: 57-504

Amzac Magic^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 95| BF| D

4/1

First handicap latest at Fontwell (2m3f) saw comfortably his best effort so far only going down by 1½L in third. Kept on really well so an extra 1f can only be beneficial and 1lb rise not enough to temper enthusiasm. Genuine contender.

Form: 2/53-043

Bouggietopieces^p⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 92| D

100/1

50/1 for first Rules races since January 2018 and fell before things heated up at Taunton. Pulled up in two most recent races before that so hard to have any confidence now.

Form: P4-42PF

Two Sams³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: M Blake| OR: 90

7/1

Irish point-to-point winner who has so far showed little in four starts under rules. Handicaps may prove more favourable and opening mark not impossible so place possibilities here.

Form: P1-0P05

I'll Be Your Clown⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: S D Dixon| OR: 89

40/1

Not won since 2017 but latest run here when a relatively close eighth of 18 over 2m suggested this longer trip might now suit. Not one to be entirely confident in but neither one to totally rule out.

Form: P79-908

Bredon Hill Leo⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 88

16/1

Hurdles form has been uninspiring and the gelding has a lot to find to get involved here. Best watched on this occasion.

Form: 49-67P

Veiled Secret^t,v1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 88

16/1

Only placed once so far over hurdles and desperately struggled since switched to handicaps. Latest 29L sixth at Huntingdon his best effort so far which tells the tale. More headgear added here but hard to be confident.

Form: 24-70P6

Shanroe Smooch⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 85

50/1

Beaten 27L plus in every Rules race to date and latest 11th of 14 at Plumpton a continuation of his struggles. Hard to have any confidence.

Form: 1-73P40

True Thoughts^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 92

100/1

Beaten at least 41L in all hurdle races so far. Handicaps may be slightly beneficial but not seen enough to suggest he can win a race.

Form: 0790

Richardofdoccombe^t⁶⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 83

14/1

Lone win a 2015 maiden hurdle but latest staying on fifth of 15 in a Uttoxeter handicap represents one of the better pieces of recent form here. Longer trip will suit and has each-way potential in a very weak contest.

Form: 324F9-5

Blue April^b³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 83

11/4

Poor record overall but arrives on the back of an excellent second of 16 in a 2m3f Taunton handicap last month. Same mark and same grade of race here so fully expecting another bold bid.

Form: 26-0262

Forecasts

Blue April (11/4), Pemberley (3/1), Amzac Magic (4/1), Two Sams (7/1), Grey Atlantic Way (11/1), Richardofdoccombe (14/1), Bredon Hill Leo (16/1), Veiled Secret (16/1), Darwins Theory (33/1), I'll Be Your Clown (40/1), Shanroe Smooch (50/1), Hold Me Tight (66/1), True Thoughts (100/1), Bouggietopieces (100/1)

AMZAC MAGIC ran a really good race latest when staying on strongly into third at Fontwell and in a very ordinary contest he is taken to get off the mark here. Blue April's Uttoxeter second latest is another of the more persuasive pieces of form and he too must be considered. Unexposed Pemberley is expected to fare considerably better now switched to handicaps for a very good yard.