14:05 Wincanton

Thursday 5 December 2019

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Hookey Ham Patrick Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 41.0s

Scaramanga⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| BF

3/1

Consistent juvenile last term and can be forgiven Chepstow comeback when soft ground was all against and also lost a shoe. This ground far more suitable and this represents a drop in grade so warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 3212-8

Novis Adventus^p,t⁴³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 130

50/1

First-time cheekpieces worked the oracle at Worcester in September and return visit there can be forgiven as he finished lame. Does his running at 2m4f so has to prove this much shorter trip will suit.

Form: 21/7715-

Humble Hero^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

12/1

Consistent type on a sound surface and in too deep in the competitive Greatwood Hurdle on soft ground last time. Back in calmer waters on more suitable ground now so should be a contender.

Form: 2213-F0

Flashing Glance¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 128

4/1

Well backed when showing that front-running tactics worked for him when making all at Kempton last week. Escapes a penalty for that Conditionals event and 4lb well in here and this sharp track is in his favour.

Form: 15-F491

Milkwood¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 127

8/1

Hereford win was gained on good ground and ran creditably on a softer surface at Wetherby since. Has a turn of foot and should get the decent pace for him to aim at so could be more to come.

Form: 7/521-13

King D'Argent^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 125

28/1

Good ground winner a year ago and although this season has been disappointing so far, his runs have been on unsuitably soft ground and a chance he could bounce back on this better ground for his top connections.

Form: 1324-55

River Bray^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 125| CD

10/1

Hasn't really taken to fences but but back over hurdles on good ground will see him a better light and this front-runner, who won on his only previous visit here, may run well at a fair price.

Form: 131-F6P

Alcock And Brown²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 125

50/1

Seems very much a Worcester specialist and recent wins have been over 2m4f. Seems stable second choice on jockey bookings and others make more appeal at this distance.

Form: 89/611-P

Shut The Box²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 125

14/1

Won a weak Plumpton novice last term and latest run at Sandown can be forgiven as the testing ground was against him but does need to take a step forward.

Form: 3451-35

Peruvien Bleu²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: R Chapman| OR: 124

100/1

In good heart in the summer but recent form has been well below that and no better on first run for this stable recently so not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 3-2UF68

Maquisard¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M Goldstein| T: M Madgwick| OR: 122

22/1

Losing run goes back to March 2018 and still finds himself 2lb above that win. Fit from the Flat but others look to have stronger claims.

Form: 93F2U4-

Capone²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: C J Mann| OR: 120

14/1

Two wins on similar ground as a juvenile last term and although his runs this season have been less inspiring, he did lose a shoe at Newbury last time and becoming well handicapped so worth a second look.

Form: 1212-67

Stamp Your Feet^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 115

20/1

Lost his way over fences last season and no better over the smaller obstacles on comeback run. This his first run at the minimum trip since 2017 and only of interest if market speaks in his favour.

Form: 2B85-50

Purple King²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 113

9/2

Landed a pair of weak races in the summer but has struggled in tougher contests of late and needs to rediscover earlier form in a decent looking heat.

Form: 321195

Lets Go Dutchess^t1⁵²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: K Bishop| OR: 107

33/1

Very lightly raced since winning at Aintree in 2017 and absent for 18 months. Normally seen over much further and likely to find this too much of a speed test. Tongue-tie now tried.

Form: P5/F432-

Forecasts

Scaramanga (3/1), Flashing Glance (4/1), Purple King (9/2), Milkwood (8/1), River Bray (10/1), Humble Hero (12/1), Capone (14/1), Shut The Box (14/1), Stamp Your Feet (20/1), Maquisard (22/1), King D'Argent (28/1), Lets Go Dutchess (33/1), Novis Adventus (50/1), Alcock And Brown (50/1), Peruvien Bleu (100/1)

SCARAMANGA was well backed in a better race at Chepstow on his comeback but found the ground too soft and now back on a more suitable surface in lower grade he appeals and can give the weight away. Milkwood should get the strong pace he wants and looks a danger with River Bray an interesting contender at a decent price.