15:20 Wincanton

Thursday 17 October 2019

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:5517:25

Tribute To Marcus Trescothick Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 3m 34.90s

Innocent Touch⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 132

66/1

Progressed nicely through the ranks over hurdles last year winning four times over 2m trips; now 1lb lower than his last hurdles win. Chasing career appears to have been curtailed for now and latest disappointment perhaps over too far (2m5f).

Form: 1F-3335

Diamond Guy^t⁵²⁷

6/1

Last spotted winning novice hurdles at Wincanton and Ludlow in spring of 2018, missed 527 days and undergone wind operation since but represents champion trainer and should be raring to go today.

Form: 1421/1-

Flying Tiger¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

7/1

Has not prevailed since winning the Fred Winter in 2017. His form over hurdles recently has been poor and a change of stables latest made little difference at Fontwell. Handicap sliding all the time but patience wearing thin.

Form: B8U5-05

Grey Diamond^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 127

5/1

Made a winning stable debut at Perth last month when winning a heavy ground 2m handicap by 5L. Tougher ask now but still quite lightly raced and open to improvement.

Form: 4F1-F31

Gateway To Europe²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 127

10/1

10lb higher here than when winning a Fontwell handicap in August having since beat Ban Shoof who goes in the 2.10 today at Plumpton latest in a novice hurdle. Must improve again but signs are that he's doing just that at present

Form: 232211

Sebastopol²⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: T Lacey| OR: 127| BF

3/1

Bumper and point scorer fourth to Grade One placed Thomas Darby at Cheltenham last October and third of 12 at Ayr subsequently as 2/5F. Had a break and almost certainly has better to come so is a really intriguing contender here.

Form: 11/43-

Giving Glances¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 122

10/1

Looked a smart prospect when effortlessly winning at Hereford last term. Pulled-up next on soft ground at Aintree but back to true form at Doncaster since when winning a Listed race. Flat pipe-opener encouraging and highly respected today.

Form: 1P10-

Purple King⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Cillin Leonard⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 120

6/1

Hat-trick seeker after adding Perth novice score to Stratford maiden latest. Handicap debut today but booking of 10lb claimer suggests trainer thinks he has enough weight.

Form: 32-3211

Fresno Emery²³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 115

50/1

French import was well backed on debut at Fontwell and support proved well founded as he battled to success. Complete no shows afterwards at Ascot and Newbury however make him a risky proposition on reappearance.

Form: 3/169-

Pagero³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112

12/1

Dual French Flat winner in 2018 and cost €190,000 on his switch to his current yard. Set stiff tasks in his first two outings and unwillingness to settle since seen him placed at Carlisle and Fontwell. Has ability but must drop the bit.

Form: 703-2

Excellent Team^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: M Blake| OR: 108

50/1

8lb rise for Newton Abbot (2m1f; good) victory back in July proved too much when he was comprehensively beaten at Worcester last time out. Mark is still unchanged, and so he has plenty to prove.

Form: 227-414

Ravenous¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: L P Aspell| T: L A Dace| OR: 107

20/1

Ran one of the better races of a busy Flat campaign when third at Chester latest but his 0-14 hurdles record rather tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 4/723-46

Non-Runners

Highly Prized⁴⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Aidan Coleman

Forecasts

Sebastopol (3/1), Grey Diamond (5/1), Diamond Guy (6/1), Purple King (6/1), Flying Tiger (7/1), Gateway To Europe (10/1), Giving Glances (10/1), Highly Prized (10/1), Pagero (12/1), Ravenous (20/1), Fresno Emery (50/1), Excellent Team (50/1), Innocent Touch (66/1)

Having raced with so much promise on his hurdles debut at Cheltenham SEBASTOPOL was a little disappointing at Ayr but he remains a hurdler of considerable potential and at this stage he could easily be well handicapped. Smart mare Giving Glances is feared after running so well on the Flat latest although there are plenty of others with claims including unknown quantity Highly Prized.