15:45 Stratford

Sunday 14 April 2019

All14:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:5017:25

Join Today Inspire Racing Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 6m 40.50s

Late Shipment^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 106| D

11/4

Took advantage of handicap mark to score over just shy of 3m at Chepstow last month, no certainty to run as well a second time but certainly entitled to go well again from this mark.

Form: 73-6681

Act Alone^t¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: J Mason| OR: 104

20/1

Won a maiden hurdle for Nicky Henderson once upon a time, but was well beaten in recent runs at Warwick and Market Rasen on his return from an absence of 931-days and has plenty still to prove as a result. Eased 7lb here.

Form: 3265/P9

Silent Steps^p,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J McGrath| T: N B King| OR: 104

11/2

Has just the sole win on her CV after 19 starts, and that was when allowed an uncontested lead over fences at Southwell (3m) in December; finished 4½L fourth to Tikk Tock Boom on her return to hurdles at Hereford (3m1f) last month and could go well.

Form: 1P3P64

Johnny Og²⁹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 100| C

33/1

Useful frontrunner when trained by Martin Keighley, though a while since his best has been seen now. Shaped marginally better over fences here last June for this trainer, on a nice mark should be on song returning to hurdles.

Form: PP3-667

Head Lad³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 99

6/1

Finished runner-up over 2m in a handicap hurdle at Chepstow (good-to-soft) in November. Decent effort when a close sixth over 2m3f at Warwick (good-to-soft) subsequently. Brought dearly early doors since at Hereford. Up in trip, considered.

Form: 09-226B

Mauna Kea^b⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry| OR: 98

10/1

Improved to win twice in quick succession in December, but lost his way again since and really needs the returning headgear to have a positive effect.

Form: P64779

Red Admirable^t,v²⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 10-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 88

17/2

Teenager, can be given some hope from this mark based on last season's form, but yet to suggest another win is looming so far this term.

Form: 463853

Boher Lad⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 82

7/2

Good second last time at Sedgefield behind an improving sort, can be in the frame here with a repeat effort and possible capable of better.

Form: 799752

Culm Counsellor²⁰⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 79| CD

28/1

C&D winner in 2017 but raced only five times since (all over fences) and nothing positive to report in those efforts. Big ask back from layoff/returned to hurdles.

Form: 1P4-78P

Windy Bottom²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 78

10/1

Irish point-to-point winner, not able to show any positive form in rules career to date and makes little appeal despite latest relief from the handicapper.

Form: 809767

Forecasts

Late Shipment (11/4), Boher Lad (7/2), Silent Steps (11/2), Head Lad (6/1), Red Admirable (17/2), Mauna Kea (10/1), Windy Bottom (10/1), Act Alone (20/1), Culm Counsellor (28/1), Johnny Og (33/1)

Late Shipment scored last time at Chepstow and can be given a chance from this revised mark but he's not exactly a reliable performer and has struggled before to gain any consistency. On that basis a chance is given to SILENT STEPS, who finished a decent fourth at Hereford last time and has gone close off higher marks in the past. Boher Lad, second at Sedgefield and Head Lad can also be shortlisted upped in distance for what is a weak race.