14:50 Market Rasen

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Pallinc Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 5m 16.00s

Ninth Wave²⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G Disney⁽⁷⁾| T: J Mason| OR: 102

33/1

Lightly raced five-year-old who showed some ability for Philip Hobbs last season. Well beaten on his last two starts for that yard and joined current connections in May for £7,000. Yard hasn't had a winner nearly two years and is best watched.

Form: 494367-

Eaglehill^p1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 100

7/2

Fairly prominent in the betting on handicap debut at Warwick (2m3f, soft) last month but disappointed, beaten 30L into ninth. Had shown some promise previously and positive market vibes should be noted with cheekpieces now added and a drop in grade.

Form: 21-8759

Go To Court⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

14/1

Posted a career best when second at Southwell (2m4½f, good) two starts ago, for all she didn't look the most resolute late on. Pulled up on chasing debut when last seen 81 days ago and reverts to hurdles now with her best form on decent ground.

Form: 36-432P

Head Lad³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 99| C

10/3

Showed some form without winning for Jonjo O'Neill but the switch to Dan Skelton and a wind operation saw him get off the mark here (2m½f, soft) last month. Up in trip and a 6lb rise but may well have more to come with confidence boosted.

Form: 6B7-541

Bells Of Peterboro²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99

3/1

Has returned from a break in good form this season and just touched off at Exeter (2m2½f, soft) three weeks ago when posting a career best. Up in trip once again and is shortlisted given his improved form this term.

Form: 50-73U2

Lochinver^h,t⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 97| BF

7/1

Off the mark at Stratford (2m2½f, soft) two runs back and ran well in defeat when third at Huntingdon (2m4½f, good) last time out, when his 9lb rise might have been hefty enough. Same mark here and may vulnerable to unexposed rivals.

Form: 0-7P613

Banana Joe^b1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 94

12/1

Hard to be enthusiastic about any of his five runs (two bumpers/three hurdles) but makes his handicap debut at a low level in first-time blinkers. Yard have turned the corner after a moderate autumn and worth a second look if the market is positive.

Form: 067-50

Wye Aye^h³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 88

20/1

Has been tailed off in all six starts to date (three bumpers/three hurdles). His opening mark seems harsh given what he has shown (last of six, beaten 64L latest) and big improvement required on handicap debut.

Form: 0-08046

Cilluirid^h³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87

14/1

Placed in a Irish point but well beaten on all three hurdle starts this season (1m7½f-2m1f). Didn't look completely devoid of ability, however, and with this step-up in trip likely to suit, is worth a check in the betting.

Form: P-2706

Catlin^h⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: N Kent| OR: 86

11/1

0/10 so far under all codes. Has dropped 11lb since going handicapping four runs back but hasn't looked like taking advantage. Finished fifth, beaten 20L, last time at Huntingdon (2m4½f, good) and has minor each-way claims at best.

Form: 82-45P5

Glengar²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 85

33/1

Didn't show much in his bumpers or novice hurdles and the switch to handicaps failed to yield any improvement when pulled up at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) four weeks ago. Hard to enthusiastic on the evidence to date.

Form: 8697-0P

Early Boy^e/s⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 62

66/1

Being 12lb out of the weights is the first hurdle that he has to conquer and when a career record of 0-21 is added to the equation he becomes an unappealing proposition.

Form: 4P6P-0P

Non-Runners

Dr Oakley⁷²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: Henry Oliver J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Bells Of Peterboro (3/1), Head Lad (10/3), Eaglehill (7/2), Lochinver (7/1), Catlin (11/1), Banana Joe (12/1), Go To Court (14/1), Dr Oakley (14/1), Cilluirid (14/1), Wye Aye (20/1), Ninth Wave (33/1), Glengar (33/1), Early Boy (66/1)

Having improved for the switch to Dan Skelton when winning here last time, it's likely that Head Lad has more to offer now upped in trip and is a solid proposition. The selection, however, is CILLUIRID. He has shown some ability in his points and three hurdles and now handicapping, he's upped in a trip under a capable amateur who takes off 5lb. Banana Joe is worthy of a second look for similar reasons although his form is weaker whilst Bells Of Peterboro and Eaglehill have shown enough to get involved.