13:00 Wetherby

Thursday 26 December 2019

All11:5512:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

888Sport Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:03 | Winning time: 5m 29.30s

All Hail Caesar³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 110

15/2

Twice placed in bumpers who made two respectable starts over hurdles before bombing out with 49L defeat at Hexham last time out. Mark is high enough for handicap debut.

Form: 0225-34

State Vision^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 109

16/1

Run to a similar level in four starts to date without showing much progression. needs more based on 21L defeat in Warwick novices hurdle last time (2m) and not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 5-4874

Norwegian Woods²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 109| D

10/1

Was being given chances by the handicapper based on previous runs and made that count when 8L winner of 2m4f Southwell handicap hurdle earlier this month. 10lb rise makes this trickier but respected.

Form: 2544F1

Theflickeringlight⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 102| D

11/8

Had been bumping into a couple of useful prospects during her career and took advantage of fair opening mark with commanding success at Newcastle (2m4f) last time. Up 7lb but holds solid claims.

Form: 25-5331

Hangard⁶¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 107

33/1

Sole win came on debut in 2017 but not so good the last twice, including 18L defeat in 2m Hexham novice hurdle in April 2018. Best watched coming off mammoth absence.

Form: 4P3374/

Just Call Me Al⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 100

7/2

Slightly inconsistent sort but took advantage of reduced mark when clear-cut winner at Catterick (2m3f) nine days ago. Quick turned out and 7lb hike in the weights means a career-best is required.

Form: 5U2-F41

Ventura Dragon^p²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 105

6/1

Steadily improving in handicap company this term and put up best hurdles performance to date with 2L second at Hereford (2m3f) last month. Remains on a workable mark so not to be dismissed.

Form: 23462

Sometimes A Fox^p1⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: P A Kirby| OR: 104

50/1

Modest performer for Gordon Elliott in Ireland and put up two poor performances for this yard, including pulling up at Musselburgh (2m4f) last time out. Needs plenty more back over hurdles.

Form: 2/705-0P

Nye Bevan²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 104

22/1

Four runs so far have yielded very little promise so far and flattered when fifth - beaten 29L - at Southwell (2m) earlier this month. Is from a top yard but becoming predictable now.

Form: 0-365

Raddle And Hum^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 102

25/1

Well-beaten in her first three starts but took a positive step when only beaten 5L in 2m5f novice hurdle at Kelso last time. Gets a likeable mark and handicaps have probably been in mind for a while.

Form: 2-8584

Wor Verge^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 102

16/1

One of the more exposed sorts in the field. Belatedly broke his duck at Hexham (2m) on penultimate start and backed that up off 10lb higher mark when second at Sedgefield (2m1f) last time. Up another 2lb.

Form: 9P0-512

Le Gavroche³⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 89

66/1

Looks to have been bought with handicaps in mind but offering little impression as of late, including on handicap debut at Newcastle (2m4f) last time out. Has a tough ask in this company.

Form: 6675/96-

George Hastings^p,t²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 100

50/1

Big prices in all three starts over hurdles but outran his 200/1 odds last time when third over 2m here last time out. That may be flattering however and will need more improvement in this.

Form: 673

On We Go¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 86

40/1

Failed to win and point-to-points or rules to date and never really threatening to do so, including 14L defeat in similar contest at Kelso (2m6f) earlier this month. Likely to fill that profile once again.

Form: P-P7064

Neileta^p³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95

50/1

Not a lot to shout about on three starts over hurdles to date and took a further step backward when 39L 12th at Catterick (2m) last month. Plenty on his plate against better rivals now.

Form: 550

Forecasts

Theflickeringlight (11/8), Just Call Me Al (7/2), Ventura Dragon (6/1), All Hail Caesar (15/2), Norwegian Woods (10/1), State Vision (16/1), Wor Verge (16/1), Nye Bevan (22/1), Raddle And Hum (25/1), Hangard (33/1), On We Go (40/1), George Hastings (50/1), Sometimes A Fox (50/1), Neileta (50/1), Le Gavroche (66/1)

Winning form is brought to the table in this contest, but it may be worth backing a maiden in VENTURA DRAGON. The four-year-old is improving with each race and should be better suited by this galloping track. Off his current mark he could be one step ahead of the handicapper. Theflickeringlight careered away to victory on handicap debut last time and there is every chance she has more improvement in her, while the likes of Wor Verge and Norwegian Woods have showed that higher marks have failed to stop their progression and should be thereabouts.