14:00 Hereford

Tuesday 26 March 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Happy Retirement Noel Fehily Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 51.9s

Cushuish⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Best| T: R H Buckler| OR: 100WS

20/1

Has shown some reasonable form (in the context of this race) so far, nothing wrong with his staying-on fourth behind Printing Dollars at Exeter but this drop back in trip not sure to suit. Nevertheless, chances on handicap debut.

Form: 0446U4

We've Got Payet^p1¹²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 100

14/1

Bumper winner at Uttoxeter last July, and looks well enough treated on handicap debut here if that form is to be believed. No great shakes over hurdles so far but gets cheekpieces on handicap debut here, and any money for him needs noting.

Form: 149570

Bob Maxwell⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 98

25/1

Still a maiden after 15 starts under all codes, rated in the 60's on the Flat and had ability but hurdles efforts don't mirror that. Another to make handicap debut in this sphere but has a lot of improvement to make. Yard struggling for winners too.

Form: 088

Dr Oakley³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 97

16/1

Not a dreadful effort in a Class 3 novice hurdle at Leicester two starts back and quietly fancied to run well on handicap debut at Wetherby but flopped. Early days but does need to bounce back from that. Not ruled out.

Form: 3-4007P

Brunel Woods^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Bargary| T: David Dennis| OR: 95

9/1

Placed in a couple of bumpers, showing some promise but that's not really been translated to hurdles as yet. Stayed on to finish midfield behind Krisjano at Wincanton latest but hard to see how he reverses the form here.

Form: 33/2-080

Bazarov^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 95| BF

11/4

Runner up last three starts but that doesn't tell the full story, having been beaten at odds-on last two and was easily brushed aside at Sedgefield last time. Needs to dig in better under pressure, but track should at least suit.

Form: 560222

Why Lie³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 92

66/1

Didn't take to fences at Ludlow last time and no surprise to see that line of thinking aborted, but was in no form before that anyway (pulled up twice) and hard to make much of a case for here.

Form: 547PPF

Bentons Lad^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 90| D

25/1

In very good form last spring, winning two, and now very well handicapped but that's down to a series of below-par efforts this season and he doesn't look the same horse. Various headgear tried but to no avail. Risky now.

Form: 570658

The Ibbster^h1¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: B Forsey| OR: 89

66/1

Point-to-point winner (in the stewards room) back in 2017 but three runs back from an absence have revealed little ability, and now connections try a hood. Easy enough to pass over here.

Form: 2/17-50P

Battleofthesomme²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: Mrs K A Buckett| OR: 88

33/1

Not a terrible effort at Wincanton two starts back, only weakening late on in a weakish novice hurdle, and goes handicapping on a fair enough mark. Needs to improve but that's not impossible, and is worth a second look at a price.

Form: P-38459

Kristjano^p,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 86

6/1

Off the mark at the 20th attempt in a big field handicap at Wincanton latest, battling on well for a narrow win. 3lb rise for that is fair, and addition of cheekpieces suggests possibly more to come. Chances if repeating.

Form: 0/56-001

Two Sams^h1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: M Blake| OR: 85

12/1

Showed some ability at Taunton two starts ago, quietly fancied to run well off back of that on handicap debut at Wincanton last time but pulled his chance away. Hood on here may help and if money comes, would be interesting.

Form: 1-0P05P

Veiled Secret^t,v¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 83

20/1

Going nowhere fast at present, well beaten last few starts and despite various combinations of headgear being tried, it's all to no avail. Needs a huge turnaround in his form to hold any chance.

Form: 4-70P6P

Lamh Ar Lamh^h,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 80

11/4

Has refound some form lately, good winner at Taunton last week and gets in here with no penatly due to it being a conditionals race. No reason not to go well again despite drop in trip, and has to be on anyone's shortlist. Ground no issue.

Form: R22P21

Yalla Habibti⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Dave Crosse| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 79

25/1

No wins or places in 9 starts but was at least in the process of running a better race when falling two out at Sedgefield latest, might have been in the frame. Overall profile not that convincing though, and others make more appeal.

Form: 45065F

John Biscuit¹³³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 71

20/1

Just three wins from 44 starts, into the veteran stage now but well handicapped on best and has, on occasions, gone well after a break before. Conditions fine and yard among the winners, so could go better than likely big odds will imply.

Form: 066-585

Kayf Tiger^b,t⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 65

33/1

Yet to get close to winning one after 13 starts and ought to have done a bit better under conditions that should have been fine last week, but pulled up., Hard to fancy from this far out of the handicap.

Form: 63-886P

Non-Runners

Diamond Rose²³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: J S Smith J: M D Grant

Forecasts

Bazarov (11/4), Lamh Ar Lamh (11/4), Kristjano (6/1), Brunel Woods (9/1), Two Sams (12/1), We've Got Payet (14/1), Dr Oakley (16/1), Veiled Secret (20/1), Cushuish (20/1), John Biscuit (20/1), Bob Maxwell (25/1), Bentons Lad (25/1), Yalla Habibti (25/1), Diamond Rose (25/1), Kayf Tiger (33/1), Battleofthesomme (33/1), Why Lie (66/1), The Ibbster (66/1)

Quantity rather than quality to kick off the card with, and a few have chances. Lamh Ar Lamh looks sure to be in the shake-up given she's one of only one of a handful to come into this in any sort of form, and simialr can be said for Kristjano after his Wincanton win, but his overall profile isn't as convincing. Old John Biscuit could surprise a few after a break and the likes of We've Got Payet and Battleofthesomme need a look in the market, but DR OAKLEY ran too bad to be true on his handicap debut and is given another chance.