20:10 Ffos Las

Thursday 20 June 2019

All18:0018:3519:1019:4020:1020:4021:10

Velindre Charity Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:10 | Winning time: 5m 51.40s

Ready And Able^p1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133

4/1

Won three times on the trot last year over variety of trips, before taking a tumble at Newbury in November (held at the time). Well held fourth last month at Aintree over this sort of trip on return (fancied). Cheekpieces on first time now.

Form: 9/111F-4

Rolling Maul^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 133| C| D

28/1

9-48 record over hurdles, winning three times last year. Hasn't fired in either start this term but too soon to be writing the 11-year-old off.

Form: 1118-66

Van Gogh Du Granit^b,t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 132| D

7/2

Goes on any ground and stays 3m, winner of a chase at Market Rasen last month and has been very consistent in that sphere of late. Seeks to take advantage of lower hurdles mark; interesting.

Form: 320-122

Follow The Bear³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| D

9/2

Stays well and made the most of a handy mark to win at Aintree last month (Ready And Able fourth); made all that day and must be respected as a pace angle despite being 7lb higher now.

Form: F4/7F3-1

Three Ways^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Hicks⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 130| D

16/1

Last won over timber at Doncaster in early 2017, seems to prefer a bit of cut in the ground and may get that now, but both runs this term have been laboured.

Form: 21F3/6-D

Beneagles^v²⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 130

14/1

Milan gelding improved last summer on decent ground, going close C&D before scoring at Worcester over 2m7f (good) in July. Fell early at Newton Abbot in September and off since, worth noting in betting on seasonal return.

Form: 540/21F-

Solo Saxophone^b,t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

5/1

By Frankel, back on song with back-to-back wins at Wetherby and Hexham in April and far from disgraced (beaten 4L) in stronger Aintree race since. Up 2lb, longer trip and one to be noted.

Form: 08511-3

Sizing At Midnight²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122| C

3/1

Off the mark in 2m6f Class 4 event here last month and had no problems defying 7lb penalty at Newton Abbot with even more authority. Hit with another sizeable hike (12lb) but going the right way and remains of interest.

Form: P/7P2-11

Marble Moon¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 117| CD

10/1

Completed a four-timer over hurdles (won twice here) last summer, including C&D win. Chase winner at Ludlow (3m, good) last month, unseated next time and needs to be near best back over hurdles.

Form: 0847-1U

Forecasts

Sizing At Midnight (3/1), Van Gogh Du Granit (7/2), Ready And Able (4/1), Follow The Bear (9/2), Solo Saxophone (5/1), Marble Moon (10/1), Beneagles (14/1), Three Ways (16/1), Rolling Maul (28/1)

There was market support for READY AND ABLE on his seasonal comeback at Aintree in April and, while he didn't live up to expectations, there's reason to believe we've not yet seen the best of him. With new headgear and Jonjo O'Neill's claim, he should go well in this competitive affair. Van Gogh Du Granit can take his chance off a lower mark over timber and is in good form, ensuring he joins Follow The Bear (frontrunner) and Solo Saxophone on the shortlist.