15:20 Wetherby

Saturday 16 November 2019

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2015:50

William Hill Betting TV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 4m 8.45s

Cornerstone Lad¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 142| D

9/2

Decent dual purpose performer who arrives after further success on the Flat and is 3lb higher than his latest hurdles success at Newcastle in April. Acts on soft and enters calculations again here.

Form: 23/2131-

Dear Sire³⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 140| CD

20/1

Reverts to hurdles having won twice over fences in 2018. Was decent in that sphere, and if he is straight for this reappearance from 13-months off, then he is on a very competitive mark.

Form: 01F31F-

Theatre Legend³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: C Grant| OR: 134| CD

3/1

C&D scorer on soft in March, who then defied a 12lb rise to back that up with further success at Ayr. Ran well here on his reappearance last month (today's mark), and should again be thereabouts.

Form: 3311-32

Signifiant^t1³⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130

50/1

Was last seen winning a French chase (2m1f, heavy) in March. Changed hands for £36,000 in May and makes stable debut here back over hurdles. Tongue-tie fitted and probably best to check the market for confidence.

Form: 13720/F-

Master Of Irony^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 129| CD

20/1

Triple hurdles winner at up to 2m3½f, including on soft, and also including here over 2m. Back on the same mark as the latter win just over two years ago. Was off from May 2018 until held on recent Flat return at Doncaster. Check market for clues.

Form: 1314PU/

Yccs Portocervo^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 124| D

8/1

Dual hurdles winner in the summer at up to 2m2½f, in maiden/novice company. Was too free on his handicap debut at Worcester last month, when well held. Drop in trip should help him settle and no surprise to see him go much closer this time.

Form: 5-R1210

Aristo Du Plessis¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J Ewart| OR: 123| CD

5/2

Multiple C&D winner who goes well on soft ground. Latest success was here last December, when he gave 3lb to Cornerstone Lad. Now 22lb better off with him, and after a good run here last time, he can go very close.

Form: 84505-4

Dali Mail^t²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 123| DWS

5/1

Both his wins have been on heavy ground, including in a maiden hurdle at Ayr 12-months ago. Was still improving when last seen at Newcastle in March. Since had wind surgery. Up 1lb for this return. Interesting.

Form: 310/122-

Zig Zag^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 121| CD

25/1

C&D winner in January, when 3lb lower, and has won since off that same mark at Cartmel. Has been a long way below that level since, so arrives with plenty to prove now.

Form: 5-61709

Un Comedien¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 115

80/1

Sole win came when trained in France in 2016. Well held on both starts for this trainer. Others preferred.

Form: F33F-00

Forecasts

Aristo Du Plessis (5/2), Theatre Legend (3/1), Cornerstone Lad (9/2), Dali Mail (5/1), Yccs Portocervo (8/1), Dear Sire (20/1), Master Of Irony (20/1), Zig Zag (25/1), Signifiant (50/1), Un Comedien (80/1)

Another potentially competitive heat. Aristo Du Plessis again looks a major player given his record here, while Cornerstone Lad should not be far away, despite being much worse off with his old foe than around a year ago. Dali Mail needs a market check on his return from wind surgery and a break. He would be no shock winner. Dear Sire, Theatre Legend and Master Of Irony are others of interest, but the suggestion is YCCS PORTOCERVO, who should be effective back down in trip and has scope for further improvement.