15:10 Perth

Wednesday 31 July 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

Heineken UK Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 53.04s

Lomachenko⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 123

40/1

Formerly with Nicky Henderson but never lived up to his early potential; poor in both previous starts for his current yard and makes limited appeal even though he comes across the Irish Sea in an attempt to reestablish his reputation today.

Form: 4142-U0

Serious Ego^b³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 117| D

9/1

Soft ground winner at Leopardstown in March and hit hard by the assessor afterwards; been cut some slack after finishing last over C&D in June but still looks high in the weights judging by that moderate performance.

Form: 1580-69

Golden Town²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 115| CD

6/1

Backed up his surprise win at Sedgefield in May (at odds of 66/1) with smooth effort over C&D at the start of this month. The penny has obviously dropped with the gelding but a 12lb higher mark is a tough ask. Thereabouts if he copes.

Form: 870P-11

Chef De Troupe¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 114| D

4/1

Landed a brace over hurdles in June but was brushed aside in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen last time. This is significantly easier and, as he's still open to improvement over timber, the gelding must enter the calculations.

Form: 5-72110

Lucky Robin¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: B Ellison| OR: 113

5/1

Was a ready winner at Market Rasen earlier this month and progressive enough to merit an interest in this better grade. Going right handed suits the gelding and very feasible he's got a but more to give despite a 10lb hike in the ratings.

Form: 6444-51

Mistiroc^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 112

9/2

Back over hurdles after a luckless spell on the Flat (the handicapper has hit him hard and his rating of 88 leaves little room to move on the level). He's shown some ability over jumps (still 0-3) but can improve further. One to monitor closely.

Form: 445-

Touchedbyanangel^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109| D

25/1

Won three times in Ireland last season but three starts for his current yard have produced little of worth so far; still looks high in the weights and has something to prove at present.

Form: 131P0-8

Placedela Concorde^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Dowson| T: M A Barnes| OR: 105| CD

9/1

Plenty of course experience and won here as a novice last year; finished ahead of Touchedbyanangel last time but was also well beaten himself on the day. Very well handicapped but needs to prove he hasn't lost his way.

Form: 2336-45

Green Zone¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 104| CD

11/2

Best recent effort when second over 2m4f at this course in June but two subsequent starts have been well below that level. Still looking high in the weights from 7lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 124276

Forecasts

Chef De Troupe (4/1), Mistiroc (9/2), Lucky Robin (5/1), Green Zone (11/2), Golden Town (6/1), Placedela Concorde (9/1), Serious Ego (9/1), Touchedbyanangel (25/1), Lomachenko (40/1)

A lot depends on how much GOLDEN TOWN still has up his sleeve but he's made good progress lately and is worth following again in this sort of company. Chef De Troupe is down in grade and appeals as the best alternative to the selection, while Lucky Robin and Mistiroc, a useful recruit from the Flat, are others to monitor in what is likely to be an active betting market if the portents suggest the three-timer is beyond the section due to the 12lb higher mark he has to shoulder today.