13:25 Wincanton

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 35.40s

Jatiluwih⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 146| D

5/2

Ex-French gelding unbeaten in five starts since joining current yard. Has shown progressive form and completed seasonal hat-trick when scoring in fine style at Cheltenham last time. Raised 9lb but should make very bold bid for six-timer.

Form: 211-111

Third Wind⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Morrison| OR: 137| D

11/2

3-4 last season concluding with excellent last gasp win in Grade 3 novices handicap hurdle at Sandown in March. Seventh on chasing bow at Huntingdon last month and connections quickly revert to timber. 6lb higher than last hurdles success.

Form: 0/1211-7

Myplaceatmidnight³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 134| CD

8/1

Ran well all four starts here last term, including C&D win last January. Scored again at Plumpton in March and shaped with plenty of promise when second here on seasonal reappearance last month. Raised 1lb but very much a contender.

Form: 321F-52

Storm Arising³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| C

5/2

Still unexposed gelding who won maiden hurdle over 2m4f here last term. Stayed on here last time over that trip when fourth in fair event and extra furlong should help the cause with good 7lb conditional claiming.

Form: 4513-44

Duc De Beauchene^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: D Pipe| OR: 129| D

9/2

Landed Plumpton 2m4f h'cap hurdle last term and began this campaign with fine win at Cheltenham last month when winining with a bit in hand over about this trip. Unsurprisingly raised 10lb, but is going the right way and looks a serious player.

Form: 9412-01

Final Choice^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 127

40/1

Both wins this year have come at Uttoxeter but ran very poorly when last of 10 at Chepstow last time and will do very well to get involved off just 2lb lower mark.

Form: 162150

Collooney^t²⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: O Murphy| OR: 127WS

18/1

Won Huntingdon bumper and Bangor-on-Dee 2m novice hurdle last term. Odds-on second here over nearly 2m in February then close third over extended 2m4f at Market Rasen in March. Had wind surgery and has first win since off 5lb higher mark.

Form: 2/12123-

Demon Fou³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 119| CD

12/1

C&D winner in October off 13lb lower mark. Ran well in defeat back here 12 days later and again when fourth to Duc de Beauchene at Cheltenham last time. 6lb better off with that rival, but runs from 1lb out of the handicap.

Form: 73-4144

Non-Runners

Tedham³³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jatiluwih (5/2), Storm Arising (5/2), Tedham (7/2), Duc De Beauchene (9/2), Third Wind (11/2), Myplaceatmidnight (8/1), Demon Fou (12/1), Collooney (18/1), Final Choice (40/1)

A fine race in prospect with a number of upwardly mobile contenders. Narrow preference is for DUC DE BEAUCHENE who is taken to foil the admirable Jatiluwih's bid for six in a row. The selection really mpressed when winning at Cheltenham last time and could still be a step ahead of the handicapper. Jatiluwih will almost certainly prove a tough nut to crack and won't go down without a proper fight. Tedham is another with serious claims following his third in a Grade 3 last time, and Myplaceatmidnight also shaped well when second here last time out. Storm Arising and Third Wind are others who could quite easily have a say in the argument.