13:50 Hereford

Monday 4 November 2019

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Dawleys Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 35.10s

Master Tradesman^p¹⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 100| BF

8/1

Fair maiden hurdler on his day although he's made little impact of late (let down by his jumping over fences). Favourite in a better grade when last seen he continues to underperform; comes with risks here, makes limited appeal.

Form: 85P6P3-

Norwegian Woods²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Price⁽⁶⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99| BF

11/4

Yet to win a race he's still relatively unexposed in handicap company having had just a couple of starts in this sphere. Registered a fair fourth in this grade at Kelso las time over 2m5f, chance if he stays this trip having eased 1lb in the weights.

Form: 67-2544

Dontminddboys²⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Ceris Biddle⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 97

50/1

Yet to strike over hurdles (0-6) he is a three-time chase winner but looks to have lost his way of late (has been tried in headgear; removed now). Pulled up when he was last seen over fences, returns over hurdles (can race lazily), fails to inspire.

Form: 1P/P30P-

Our Delboy^p1²⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ross Turner| T: S Allwood| OR: 94

40/1

Cheekpieces used first-time on his stable debut (left Don McCain) returning from a fair absence having been pulled up when last seen. Mark continues to fall but there remains a question as to how much ability he retains; needs to show some spark.

Form: 8364/8P-

Jimmy Bell^p²¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 92

8/1

Like a few in this yet to win a race (0-11 in this sphere); shaped better than his final finishing position when last seen (reportedly bled) at Chepstow in April. Break may have freshened him up, off the same mark as when last seen; tries a new trip.

Form: 4/54460-

Boher Lad³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 92| D

14/1

More consistent than many of these winning two of his last six starts over staying trips but does need to bounce back from a below-par run last time (ground, soft likely to blame). Has won off higher marks in the past, chance if the rain stays away.

Form: 21-2613

Abbeygrey^p²⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁶⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 89| D

16/1

Stable rather quiet of late and that would also describe this ones form over fences of late which has been poor to say the least. Long while since he's shown anything over timber; on balance he can only be watched for this outing.

Form: 265047-

Layerthorpe⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 88

7/2

Bounced back to form when last seen benefitting from plenty going his way at Bangor (2m7f) under a good front-running ride to shed his maiden tag. Returns after a break up 5lb over a new trip; may not get things so easy this time around.

Form: 5F5/2-71

Phoenix Song^b,t1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: J G O'Neill| OR: 86

33/1

Poor form in bumpers/over hurdles at various trips although this will be the first time he's been this far. Failed to improve for a move into low-grade handicaps last time (dropped away quickly from 4 out); tongue-tie added to blinkers, unconvincing.

Form: 57P95-7

Racing Spirit^b,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 78

8/1

Comes in with a 0-17 hurdling CV; failed to impress last time when beaten a fair way in a Worcester seller (2m7f, heavy) on difficult terms. Should be more at home back in handicaps off a lowly mark but doesn't a compelling profile.

Form: 5-37273

American Life^t,v³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M F Harris| OR: 76

9/1

Reasonable hurdler in the past but now in the veteran stage of his career and having to cope with a long losing run. His placed efforts of late look reasonable on paper but in truth are rather laboured efforts; another placed effort best expected.

Form: 35-2553

Forecasts

Norwegian Woods (11/4), Layerthorpe (7/2), Master Tradesman (8/1), Racing Spirit (8/1), Jimmy Bell (8/1), American Life (9/1), Boher Lad (14/1), Abbeygrey (16/1), Phoenix Song (33/1), Our Delboy (40/1), Dontminddboys (50/1)

Hard to fancy quite a few of these on past and present form and the field can be narrowed down to three or four candidates headed by NORWEIGIAN WOODS. He’s less exposed than most of these and his most recent form reads quite well in the context of this race although his stamina could be a slight question mark. Layerthorpe had plenty of advantages when winning at Bangor last time and ordinarily would be one to oppose but this is a weak heat and that makes him a threat. The consistency that Boher Lad has shown gives him a chance although he’ll need the rain to stay away and the ground to remain good. A career-low mark may allow American Life to grab a place but he’s unlikely to win this.