14:55 Wexford

Sunday 17 March 2019

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:10

Neville Hotels Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 12.00s

Western Sea¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 106| D

13/2

Started life for new handler with wins at Thurles and Tramore over this trip, taking advantage of lowly rating. Beaten since but could get competitive with 5lb claimer to assist.

Form: 0-11676

Claregate Street¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Doyle| OR: 105

7/1

Improved on a number of disappointing recent starts when finishing second of 12 beaten a neck on handicap debut in a Clonmel hurdle last month. Capable of a bold bid once again.

Form: B5052

Castletown Quary³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: E Griffin| OR: 102| BF| D

3/1

Scorpion gelding who cost £50,000 at the April sales following an impressive point-to-point win a month earlier. Well held in a number of starts over further since December but can go well dropping back to this trip.

Form: 134677

Top Of The Charts¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 98

10/1

Cost €80,000 as a three-year-old but went for only £7,000 at the Doncaster sales in January. Needs to improve on his third start for Champion hurdle winning stable and one to watch in the market.

Form: 30P474

Niccolai^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 95

6/1

Her point-to-point form promised more than she has been able to deliver so far. Well held in a number of dour efforts over hurdles since December including on handicap debut earlier this month finishing seventh of 19 beaten 12L.

Form: 5-25007

Kilmurry⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 91

7/1

Stepped up on debut effort when tackling 2m here on good ground in January but was well held when stepped up to 2m3f at Naas last time out. Worth a market check dropping back in trip in Champion hurdle winning colours.

Form: 060

Kristian Goingwel⁷¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 89

10/1

Poor form in a number of starts including on handicap debut when last seen in a Fairyhouse contest in April 2017. Hard to construct much of a case for the seven-year-old on return to action.

Form: 8900/

Lesssaidthebetter⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 88

33/1

Nothing of note in four gloomy hurdle starts to date including a heavy 21L defeat on handicap debut when last seen at Naas on good ground last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 49-0870

Scaramucci¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: F J Hayes⁽⁷⁾| T: P Fenton| OR: 87

12/1

Poor form in a series of dismal performances since the turn of the year, well beaten in six starts. Unlikely to make any waves on third handicap start and others look open to more improvement.

Form: F00000

Viscount Wilson^b,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 99

8/1

Improved on a number of desolate starts finishing second of seven when headed narrowly on the run-in and held close home in a Naas handicap hurdle last month. Another bold show looks likely.

Form: 000002

It's Frightening⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: C D Maxwell| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 85

40/1

Nothing of note in a number of desolate efforts over hurdles since May and easy to look elsewhere on the geldings four career starts.

Form: P000

Semper Fidelis⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: M A Enright| T: W J McLernon| OR: 83

16/1

Produced a number of poor performances in maiden hurdles well beaten and never nearer in four poor efforts. Makes handicap debut today but unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: P000

Forecasts

Castletown Quary (3/1), Niccolai (6/1), Western Sea (13/2), Kilmurry (7/1), Claregate Street (7/1), Viscount Wilson (8/1), Top Of The Charts (10/1), Kristian Goingwel (10/1), Scaramucci (12/1), Semper Fidelis (16/1), Lesssaidthebetter (33/1), It's Frightening (40/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained VISCOUNT WILSON can continue his improved form by making a bold bid here following his second of seven beaten ½L in a Naas handicap hurdle last month. The four-year-old can defy a 2lb rise in the weights and see off the attentions of Eoin Doyle's Helmut mare, Claregate Street who has been raised 3lb for a neck defeat at Clonmel last month. Castletown Quary, Top Of The Charts and Western Sea are worthy of consideration as they look capable of hitting the frame.