15:25 Market Rasen

Thursday 26 December 2019

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

Paul Barratt Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 30.20s

King D'Argent²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-5| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 121

14/1

Had a good campaign last year, culminating with finishing fourth (beaten 6½L) in the Fred Winter. Disappointed in all three starts this term, beaten a total 123L in total. Down in the weights and in grade but has questions to answer on recent form.

Form: 324-550

Farmer Boy¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C R Dore| OR: 114| C

10/1

Joined this yard after finishing third in a seller at Taunton three runs ago. Tailed off at Huntingdon next time but ran better when fourth at Doncaster (2m½f, soft) 12 days ago. Still 13lb above only handicap win and has place claims at best.

Form: 225304

Mystic Court⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 114

12/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon (2m, good) in May but was beaten when falling on handicap debut there two months ago. Yard emerging from a quiet spell now and is lightly raced so may have more to offer.

Form: 567-31F

Hometown Boy³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 114

13/8

Won his only Irish point and has shown promise in all three outings for this yard (one bumper and two hurdles). Down in trip on handicap debut but wouldn't need to improve that much to play a significant role.

Form: 1-433

Ice Galley^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 109| CD

33/1

Won over C&D off 4lb lower back in March and ran fairly in a better contest here shortly after. Jumped poorly on chasing debut after a break at Musselburgh 17 days ago and quickly reverts to hurdles. Has an each-way squeak if bouncing back.

Form: 96515-P

Torrid²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 107

5/1

Dual Flat winner who has been placed four times over hurdles. Jumped poorly on chasing debut two starts ago and was well beaten here (2m½f, soft) three weeks ago reverting to hurdles. Hard to be confident but worth a market check.

Form: 222-335

Ballycrystal⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 107

25/1

Regressive for Brian Ellison before joining this yard for £4,000 in May. Things didn't improve when pulled up on stable debut at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) six weeks ago. Drops over a mile in trip and despite plummeting handicap mark is best watched.

Form: 695PF-P

Paricolor^p,t³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 120

4/1

Well placed to win his last two at Fakenham (2m, good) and Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) since switching to handicaps. Up 16lb but still receives 14lb weight-for-age allowance and further improvement can't be ruled out from as a three-year-old.

Form: 72F11

Snougar²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 104

25/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Ayr (2m, soft) in March 2018 but has been in moderate form in his four starts since. Well beaten (47L) after nearly a year off at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) 20 days ago and others preferred until some signs of a revival.

Form: 314F/5-8

Catlow³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 100

13/2

Made the frame in two Irish points but has been disappointing in all three hurdles thus far. Beaten 36L at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) last month and while the step up in trip for handicap debut should suit, signifiant improvement is needed.

Form: 43-576

Non-Runners

State Vision³⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: C E Longsdon J: 2nd Preference

Painted Cliffs⁴⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: T R Gretton J: C J Todd

Forecasts

Hometown Boy (13/8), Paricolor (4/1), Torrid (5/1), Catlow (13/2), Farmer Boy (10/1), State Vision (12/1), Mystic Court (12/1), King D'Argent (14/1), Painted Cliffs (14/1), Ballycrystal (25/1), Snougar (25/1), Ice Galley (33/1)

Paricolor has been well placed to win his last two and a bold bid for the hat-trick is on the cards. However, the opposition is stronger as a result and HOMETOWN BOY has showed more than enough to suggest he can get involved on his handicap debut, especially dropped in trip for a yard that does well here. Mystic Court is badly handicapped on his win earlier in the year and with the Pauling team emerging from the doldrums, he has each-way claims.