15:15 Stratford

Monday 10 June 2019

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Support Abi Stock At York On Saturday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 31.9s

Uno Mas^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 117| BF| D

4/1

Four-time winner earlier in the year always finding plenty under pressure to capture his races; last win off 2lb lower at Cheltenham a career best. Slightly disappointing last time at Ffos Las; possibility that the handicapper may now be in control.

Form: 11121-4

Groundunderrepair^v⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 115| D

16/1

Not the most straightforward over fences with his two runs over the larger obstacles after a wind op not really impressing. Ran a little better returned to hurdling at Worcester last time (in a visor); still worth handling with care.

Form: 537P-64

Sporting Boy^t,v⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Farrelly| OR: 114| C

25/1

Operating below his best at the moment and now back over hurdles after two below-par chasing starts. Not won over hurdles since April 2015 with this trip looking to test his suspect stamina; needs to show more spark before he's of interest.

Form: 4543-25

Flying Verse^b,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 113| BF

7/2

Narrowly beaten over C&D last time by His Dream (run down close home) he went through the race with a better attitude in today's headgear than his previous accoutrements. 4lb higher now this trip is at the outer limits of his stamina.

Form: 21452-2

His Dream^b²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112| CD

7/2

Bounced back to form last time (first-time blinkers) when proving too strong for Flying Verse over C&D); weights bring them close together again. Looked on a going day (can race lazily); not sure to be in the same mood/form this time around.

Form: 139FP-1

Buster Edwards^p,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 112| BF| D

8/1

Relished the trip (3m2f) and the first-time headgear (cheekpieces/tongue-tie) when scoring at Fontwell (an improved performance). Raised 6lb for that win he ran to a similar level over the same C&D last time; won't be far away.

Form: 2/054-13

King Cool^b³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108| D

12/1

Well backed when taking a Kempton (2m5f) handicap hurdle in January before disappointing with two below-par efforts off the back of that win. Bounced back to form returned to Kempton (same trip) in a change of headgear; handicapper has his measure.

Form: 5817P-2

Aengus^t1,v¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 108

11/2

His fencing ambitions appear to have been shelved for now; appears happier back over hurdles although his last two runs in this sphere have not totally convinced. New headgear combination now tried in a bid to aid him over this longer trip.

Form: P7PP-33

Reckless Behavior^h¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 103

7/1

Hard one to trust totally; certainly has two ways of running and looked very laboured when attempting to follow up his Southwell win last time. Had the benefit of a career-low mark for his last win; others are more solid citizens.

Form: 4UP-713

Non-Runners

Calin Du Brizais³³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: N J Hawke J: Tom Buckley

Forecasts

Flying Verse (7/2), His Dream (7/2), Uno Mas (4/1), Aengus (11/2), Calin Du Brizais (6/1), Reckless Behavior (7/1), Buster Edwards (8/1), King Cool (12/1), Groundunderrepair (16/1), Sporting Boy (25/1)

On reflection Sam Twiston-Davies probably wishes he had held onto FLYING VERSE a little longer when he was narrowly touched off by His Dream over C&D last time with the O’Neill horse having not travelled at all through the race; placings may well be reversed this time around. Buster Edwards has looked an improved model for marathon trips such as this and having run well at Fontwell twice this track should suit him well as he bids to get back on the winning trail. Most of the others have a question mark or two against them with Uno Mas being an admirable sort that the handicapper may finally have grasped with King Cool in the same category.