13:45 Stratford

Thursday 31 October 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2515:5516:25

25 Club Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 35.74s

Alkopop²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes

25/1

Nothing of note in a couple of starts for previous handler David Arbuthnot. Second runner for Surrey handler who embarks on his first season following a number of years as assistant trainer to Nicky Henderson.

Form: P7-

Chance Finale³¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: P F Nicholls

6/1

Winner of a December point-to-point when last seen. Makes debut under rules here representing trainer who holds a 30% strike rate at this track in the last five years.

Form: 1-

Footloose^t⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

7/1

Decent efforts on both starts so far most recently when 18L fourth in a 2m maiden event on hurdling debut at Hexham last month. Yard have a 65% win and place strike rate from 26 runners at this track in the last five years.

Form: 4-4

Largy Nights¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon

16/1

Gelding by Jeremy out of a Miners Lamp mare. Useful point-to-point campaigner, running well on a number of occasions without getting his head in front. Market check on debut.

Form: 53-2

Levasseur²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case

20/1

Placed in a couple of points when well fancied before being picked up by current connections for £58,000. Last of nine tailed off 55L at odds of 150/1 on stable debut at Newbury when last seen in March. More can be expected.

Form: 229-

Love The Dream

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

25/1

Gelding by Mahler out of a Witness Box mare. Possibly best watched on debut with the yards last 13 runners up to Wednesday failing to hit the frame.

Form:

Tension Time²³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham

50/1

£42,000 son of Dubai Destination related to three winners who have all needed at least 2m3f over hurdles. Beaten 3f out and tailed off on dour debut effort in a Huntingdon bumper when last seen in March.

Form: 6-

Tide Times²⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

12/1

Small margin winner of his only point-to-point in November before finishing the best part of 20L behind McFabulous on debut in a Newbury bumper when last seen in March. Hard to fancy on hurdling bow.

Form: 10-

Wayfinder²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

11/8

Son of Shantou cost £60,000 after finishing second in the second of two 2018 Irish point-to-points. Started repaying the fee when landing a Worcester bumper earlier this month. Likely to go well on hurdling introduction.

Form: 42/1

Winter Getaway²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| BF

4/1

Dual Irish point-to-point winner. Expected to improve on his debut in a Fontwell bumper earlier this month. Yard boast a 50% win and place strike rate from 12 runners at this track in the last three years around October/November.

Form: P/14-13

Forecasts

Wayfinder (11/8), Winter Getaway (4/1), Chance Finale (6/1), Footloose (7/1), Tide Times (12/1), Largy Nights (16/1), Levasseur (20/1), Alkopop (25/1), Love The Dream (25/1), Tension Time (50/1)

WINTER GETAWAY can land the spoils in the opener for the trainer/jockey combination of Phillip Hobbs and Richard Johnson. The yard boast a 50% win and place strike rate from 12 runners at this track in the last three years around October/November and can build on that as the daughter of Getaway gets off the mark on her second start under rules at the expense of the Rebecca Curtis-trained Wayfinder who can emerge as the biggest danger. Chance Finale for the Paul Nicholls yard and the Jamie Snowden-trained, Footloose can compete for the minor honours.