15:40 Wetherby

Friday 1 November 2019

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:10

bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 4m 1.50s

Lucky Icon¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 130| D

20/1

Well held here on his recent return to hurdles. 3lb drop won't harm, but had yet to win on ground slower than good, and has one or two things to prove from this mark.

Form: 638117

Flying Tiger¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128| D

11/2

Former Fred Winter winner at the Cheltenham Festival (good to soft) and a hardy competitor in his time with Nick Williams. Keen goer, who has not yet really got going in two runs for this trainer. Slipping to a more attractive mark. Not ruled out.

Form: 8U5-05U

Flegmatik²⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| BF| CDWS

9/2

Laughed at his six opponents in a juvenile hurdle over C&D (good to soft) last December. Beaten favourite at Warwick on only run since. Had wind surgery in the summer, and will be a major player if that helps.

Form: 513-

Newtown Boy^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 127| D

8/1

Arrives on the back of a win on his stable/chase debut at Kelso last month (2m1f, good). Also scored on good over hurdles 11-months ago, when with Alan King. No reason why he can't be very competitive on his handicap debut.

Form: 1324-U1

Zig Zag^p¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 124| CD

50/1

Triple hurdles winner, the last two from 6lb lower and in weaker races, one over C&D. Not ground dependent, but needs to be much better than his last two runs in the summer.

Form: 45-6170

Aristo Du Plessis²⁰⁹

14/1

Last three wins have been over C&D on soft or good to soft, and won this in 2017. Well treated from this mark after a string of defeats and can go well fresh. Had win surgery since last seen in April. Likely contender.

Form: 684505-

Ninepointsixthree^p,t²⁰⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: S England| OR: 122WS

66/1

Triple soft ground hurdles winner, the most recent at Sedgefield in January, when 7lb lower. Blotted his copybook since then, and also had wind surgery. Could still be well treated if putting his best foot forward.

Form: 1841PR-

Persian Delight^t⁶³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 122| BF

100/1

Won both a bumper and a hurdle on soft ground when with Paul Nicholls. Not seen since runner-up on chase debut for him at Wincanton in February 2018. Returns on a handy mark if ready for this, so check the market for clues.

Form: 231342/

Fransham¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 122| CD

17/2

C&D winner (good) of a maiden hurdle in April, and followed up at Kempton (good to firm) under a penalty. Well held on sole run since in Market Rasen Listed hurdle in June. Drops 2lb for reappearance and not ruled out.

Form: 4R211-0

Dyliev^h²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 118| D

40/1

In super form earlier in the year, winning class 4 events at both Warwick and Huntingdon on good ground. Went close from today's mark at the latter track when last seen in March. Has won when fresh and not ruled out.

Form: 212112-

Robinshill^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 115| CD

11/8

Easy winner of a Worcester handicap chase (2m½f, good to soft) last week, when 7lb higher. Had been held over hurdles from today's mark prior to that, but may have needed it. Won this race in 2016 from this mark. Contender.

Form: 6607-41

Ilaya^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 106| BF

40/1

Was third from today's mark over C&D in a class 4 event in March. Still early days, and can't write her off as she raced far too keenly when a beaten favourite on her reappearance.

Form: 2/5463-9

Non-Runners

True Romance⁴³

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: Julia Brooke J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Robinshill (11/8), Flegmatik (9/2), Flying Tiger (11/2), Newtown Boy (8/1), Fransham (17/2), True Romance (10/1), Aristo Du Plessis (14/1), Lucky Icon (20/1), Dyliev (40/1), Ilaya (40/1), Zig Zag (50/1), Ninepointsixthree (66/1), Persian Delight (100/1)

A competitive handicap in prospect. Flying Tiger is a tough campaigner who could go close from this mark, while Aristo Du Plessis has to be feared at this venue and from this mark. Fellow previous winner Robinshill is another with a good opportunity after a chase win last time, but preference is for siding with youth and FLEGMATIK, who is lightly-raced and created a good impression when dotting up here last year. Newtown Boy, Ninepointsixthree, Fransham and True Romance are others not ruled out.