14:25 Warwick

Thursday 12 December 2019

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

VDL Steelweld UK Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 2.2s

Jamessaintpatrick²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 106

16/1

Point-to-point winner back in 2018 and showed a lot more on latest start when third in a maiden hurdle at Southwell. That was back in May though, and on quicker ground than he's likely to encounter here, so may be best watched today.

Form: 1/7486-3

Queens Present^p²⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 105| D

22/1

Only seen out twice last season after a long absence, and she was pulled up on both occasions, which hardly augurs well for her chance here; possible a change of training regime might have helped, but she's risky at present.

Form: 3432/PP-

Sheila's Fancy²³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Joshua Moore| T: M J Attwater| OR: 104| BF

33/1

Sprang a 33-1 surprise at Fontwell at the turn of the year but didn't repeat that effort in three subsequent starts and it's starting to look a bit of a fluke. Not seen out since April either, and all in all, others readily make more appeal.

Form: 801506-

The Distant Lady^t1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 103

10/1

Looked a real staying type when successful in a mares bumper at Southwell back in June, and there's been some positives to take from her two hurdles starts to date; realistically handicapped here and a possible improver.

Form: P2F-124

Good News²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 102

9/2

Been nothing but good news if you've been backing him this autumn, 2-2 at Fontwell and looks an improving sort; up another 7lb and this is a better race than the ones he's been winning, but may not have finished just yet.

Form: 5P/U5-11

Bishopslough^p1⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 102

66/1

Hard to find a lot of positives for this veteran, pulled up on last two starts and absences between races suggest he's not the easiest to train either. Hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 6880/P-P

Nessfield Blue²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: M D Grant| T: P G Murphy| OR: 101

10/1

Showes a modicum of ability in his novice hurdle starts but much better on latest start when a close fourth at Chepstow, doing some good late work; conditions here look fine, and if improving a little on that last run, has place chances at worst.

Form: 06-3704

Classic Tune^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 100

25/1

Runner-up at Bangor back in April but that piece of form stands out like a beacon in a sea of otherwise pretty moderate efforts, although may have a possible excuse at Huntingdon last time. Plenty to prove here all the same.

Form: P8742-P

Yorgonnahearmeroar^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 97

50/1

Early promise in novice hurdles seems but a distant memory now, well beaten again in a Southwell handicap last time and there seems no reason why he should do any better here. Hard to fancy in current form.

Form: 8U56-P5

Mr Washington^t⁴³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 96

20/1

It's been fairly moderate stuff from him in five efforts so far, although he did hit the frame in a bumper here back in 2017 and has faced a couple of tough tasks. Not seen for over a year though, so likely to need this run regardless.

Form: 13623/0-

Pond Road^p1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 94| BF

4/1

Took a big step up in trip on handicap debut at Fontwel last time (made favourite) but it seemed now even 26f was far enough, merely plugging on late; plenty of rain could conceivably hep his cause, and he is unexposed, so dangerous to discount.

Form: 34583-4

Jimmy Bell^p³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 90

13/2

Consistent if hard to win with sort, tends to save his best efforts for Hereford these days and duly turned in another decent effort there last time; acts on most ground and trips, but a surprise if something here isn't better handicapped.

Form: 54460-4

Milan Of Crystal^t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: A Whitehead| OR: 89| C| D

20/1

Hard to win with at the best of times, but has put in some decent enough efforts this year and picked up a few places for her efforts. Seems to get outpaced whatever the trip, although 2m would have been too short last time. Hard to fancy.

Form: 3-63335

Getaway Mission¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87

9/2

Well beaten in novice hurdles but just a glimmer of hope on her latest start, her first in a handicap, when running better at Hereford (weakened late). Will strip fitter for that, should have improvement to come, and isn't discounted if that's so.

Form: 64F85-6

Battlebrave²⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 86

33/1

Caught the eye a couple of times last year, far from disgraced in a novice hurdle that has worked out quite well here in March and this step up in trip will help on handicap debut; yard can land the odd gamble, so watch market is the advice.

Form: 0/9P74-

Minella Style^p,t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 79

40/1

Go back far enough and there's a piece of novice hurdle form at Taunton that makes him look a good thing here, but that's but a distant memory as he continues to throw in disappointing efforts these days. Can't be entertained.

Form: 47U/00-P

Way Of The World^b1²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 75

20/1

Just the one win in 29 starts tells you a fair bit about his chances here, although he has a few placings to show for his efforts and does try; acts on heavy ground so any further rain a plus, and not inconceivable he could run into the money again.

Form: 433-568

Huccaby^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 70

25/1

Were it not for the fact he comes from a big yard and takes a large step up in trip for his handicap debut today you wouldn't give him a second look, as he's been well beaten in four hurdles starts. Market the only guide as to chance.

Form: 88800

Non-Runners

Fair Kate²²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: T Lacey J: Stan Sheppard

Fifth Symphony⁴¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Pond Road (4/1), Getaway Mission (9/2), Good News (9/2), Jimmy Bell (13/2), The Distant Lady (10/1), Nessfield Blue (10/1), Fair Kate (12/1), Fifth Symphony (14/1), Jamessaintpatrick (16/1), Mr Washington (20/1), Milan Of Crystal (20/1), Way Of The World (20/1), Queens Present (22/1), Huccaby (25/1), Classic Tune (25/1), Sheila's Fancy (33/1), Battlebrave (33/1), Minella Style (40/1), Yorgonnahearmeroar (50/1), Bishopslough (66/1)

Good News is the one that brings solid form to the table and it's hard to knock his chance of the three-timer, although this is a more competitive event than the ones he's been mopping up in, and he may need to improve again. Potential improvers include Getaway MIssion, who caught the eye at Hereford, Nessfield Blue, The Distant Ladyand POND ROAD, who may not appreciate the drop back in trip but there are a few front runners in this, and it could turn into a stamina test. That should suit him, and he gets the vote. Those wanting something at a likely large price could do worse than have a couple of quid on Battlebrave, who could do better.