13:00 Wincanton

Sunday 27 October 2019

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Combat Stress Centenary Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 5m 9.2s

Searching^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 117

7/1

Bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Exeter (2m1f, good) and Hereford (2m5½f, good) in recent weeks. Defied a penalty on the second occasion but is up a total of 17lb for those two victories. Evidently in good heart but career best now required.

Form: 0/2-2311

Demon Fou¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 117| CD

5/1

Had been inconsistent until winning a competitive-looking C&D (good) affair 10 days ago by 2½L. A 10lb rise seems harsh but he did win comfortably and a repeat of that effort would see him in the mix.

Form: 2573-41

Shiroccan Roll⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: R M Power| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 116WS

4/1

Didn't run badly on his last two starts but he finished weakly and has now had a wind operation. Up in trip here but isn't badly handicapped on some of his form (Beaten 1¼L by Grand Sancy over 2m here last November) and yard amongst the winners.

Form: 20P3-43

Special Acceptance²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 116

11/1

Placed in all three of his completed handicaps and may well have won but for errors at the last three obstacles when third at Warwick (2m5f, good) 24 days ago. Still early days and can go well if jumping improves.

Form: 82U2-33

Stowaway Magic^t¹⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 115| BF| D

33/1

Was a promising sort in his younger days but formed declined after a positive start last season. Dropped a total 25lb but is well handicapped having left Dan Skelton. Best watched for new yard unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 90764-4

Minella Mojo^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 114

16/1

Seemed a moderate pointer but the switch under rules for this trainer with five good runs, including a win at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) two starts back. Good follow-up run at Warwick (2m5f, good) but his rise in the weights might scupper another win.

Form: P34313

Saturdaynightfever²⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113

16/1

Bit a early promise on bumpers but soundly beaten on all four hurdling starts last season, including switched to a handicap at Exeter (2m5½f, good) back in April. Joined a new yard (same ownership) but probably best watched on all known evidence.

Form: 57/3F76-

Jaytrack Parkhomes^t¹⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 113WS

10/1

Hasn't matched his bumper form in four hurdling runs thus far but his final effort in a first time tongue-tie at Exeter (2m2½f, good) was a little better. A wind operation since and handicap debut today both reasons to be optimistic.

Form: 0/5965-3

Airton^t,v1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 112

16/1

Has dropped 16lb since March but with good reason having been out of form throughout the Summer months. The application of blinkers and cheekpieces haven't made any material difference so a first-time visor today may not help either.

Form: 0-97F58

She's Gina^b¹²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 111

33/1

Improved to complete a Southwell double (2m4½f, good) against her own sex in June but couldn't translate that back to the Flat shortly after. Back from a break here and a career best required in a competitive contest.

Form: 466P-11

Vancouver^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

40/1

Over two years since his last handicap victory and has mainly contested selling hurdles in recent times. Has ran fairly on a couple of occasions but open to question whether that form is worth his current handicap mark.

Form: 253032

Norab^b¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 109

66/1

Only one win since June 2015 (a Fontwell novice hurdle) and never landed a blow on first hurdle run for two years at Exeter (2m2½f, good) 17 days ago. Has made the frame on a couple Flat runs this year but would be a surprise winner.

Form: 38143/0

Onboard^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 109| BF

20/1

Lightly-raced youngster who has been placed on both handicap starts so far, most recently at Stratford (2m2½f, good to soft) three weeks ago. This longer trip make eke out more improvement and is unexposed in comparison to many.

Form: 4-94323

Gang Warfare^p,t¹¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 105

66/1

First hurdle run since June 2018, when he finished a fair third at Worcester (2m, good to firm), this his handicap debut in this sphere. Has been badly out of form on the Flat throughout this year and will need to return to his absolute best.

Form: 56054/3-

I'd Better Go Now^t²⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 102WS

7/2

Mild promise on bumper debut two years ago but his three hurdle starts earlier this year were all pretty ordinary. Had wind surgery in the interim and handicap debut off a low mark here suggests top yard are persevering for a reason.

Form: 5/557-

Du Destin^p¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 100WS

14/1

Only one worthwhile piece of form in eight outings came when second at Market Rasen (2m4½f, soft) last December. Well beaten in two subsequent starts and now returns having had a wind operation.

Form: 607/2-P8

Tickerty Boo⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 84

100/1

Hasn't been sighted in four runs for this yard but was already regressing prior to that. Hard to envisage an upsurge here despite plummeting handicap mark.

Form: F4-4837

Forecasts

I'd Better Go Now (7/2), Shiroccan Roll (4/1), Demon Fou (5/1), Searching (7/1), Jaytrack Parkhomes (10/1), Special Acceptance (11/1), Du Destin (14/1), Airton (16/1), Saturdaynightfever (16/1), Minella Mojo (16/1), Onboard (20/1), She's Gina (33/1), Stowaway Magic (33/1), Vancouver (40/1), Gang Warfare (66/1), Norab (66/1), Tickerty Boo (100/1)

A difficult race to open proceedings in which I'D BETTER GO NOW is a tentative choice. He has showed some ability and makes his handicap debut for a leading yard after wind surgery. Onboard has more to come than most based on his first two handicap outings, with a longer trip helping here whilst Special Acceptance has a chance on his last couple of runs but needs to brush up his jumping if he is to get his head in front.