15:15 Wetherby

Friday 27 December 2019

All12:2513:0013:3014:0514:4015:15

888Sport Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 7m 0.50s

Ballyfarsoon^v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 102

25/1

Won last season off a 1lb higher mark at Aintree but is not the most reliable and often let down by his jumping; hard to fancy strongly given his overall recent profile.

Form: 414053

Bolton Boy⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99

11/4

Caused a surprise when scoring at Sedgefield in a novice late last year he's not really managed to make a successful transition into handicaps. Now sinks to a career-low mark but hard to build a case and plenty to prove despite the mark.

Form: 5F4-978

Final Fling^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Blair Campbell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 98| CD

9/2

Dual course and distance winner two seasons ago including this event; has not really sparked on his two appearances this season but looks fairly weighted and holds every chance at his favourite track.

Form: 5611/46

Border Victor^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 95| BF| CD

12/1

Course and distance winner in March (back on same mark here) who will appreciate more rainfall; can be a little quirky at times but certainly has talent; returns to hurdling after pulling up on chase debut in November.

Form: 219-83P

Quasha²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 91

8/1

Has been able to race with more possibilities as she has fallen down the handicap; not disgraced on last two outings and down another pounds in the weights; interesting contender.

Form: 454-724

Kildaven Spider^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Billy Garritty| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 91| D

25/1

Has been having a tough time of it over fences of late and returns to the smaller obstacles for the first time since July; does have some form over hurdles but difficult to assess her chances in current form.

Form: 2341PP

Dontdelay^p³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁸⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 90

6/1

Heavy ground specialist won won last time out over fences (4m); connections will be happy with more rain but it remains to be seen whether he can be as effective over this shorter trip over hurdles.

Form: 4216-71

Wind Of Hope^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 86| D

8/1

Just seems to plug on in his races these days without every getting really competitive; has drifted down the weights but might need to drop a few more pounds again to challenge for victory; definite place chance.

Form: 65-5444

Pray For A Rainbow^t¹⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Fergus Gregory| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 83| D

12/1

Fairly consistent and returns here after a long break; probably will not want the ground too soft but stays this trip well; he could be involved, but has a vulnerable look for win purposes.

Form: 33-4439

Houndscourt^t,v³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 83| CD

20/1

Was in fair form at the turn of the year and is a course and distance winner in the distant past; recent efforts over hurdles and fences don't inspire and although reasonably treated, others preferred.

Form: 1346-75

Farlam King^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 82

9/1

Overall record now reads 0-15 and while occasionally putting in some decent efforts in defeat, is not one to rely upon for win purposes.

Form: 24662P

Forecasts

Bolton Boy (11/4), Final Fling (9/2), Dontdelay (6/1), Wind Of Hope (8/1), Quasha (8/1), Farlam King (9/1), Pray For A Rainbow (12/1), Border Victor (12/1), Houndscourt (20/1), Ballyfarsoon (25/1), Kildaven Spider (25/1)

It could well pay to focus attention on the three course and distance winners in this contest with them all holding reasonable claims. Slight preference goes to BORDER VICTOR who can race from the same mark as when scoring here in March and this return to hurdling after struggling over fences could provide the spark. Final Fling won twice over course and distance but has had training problems and has been brought back slowly with recent runs at Newcastle and Kelso. He should be more competitive here. Houndscourt, while not in the best of form recently, loves it around this track and is hard to write off.