15:15 Leicester

Saturday 28 December 2019

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Leicestershire Bronze Fox Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 4m 14.1s

Aintree My Dream^h,t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 128| D

11/2

Built on encouraging third at Sandown (2m4f; heavy) two starts ago when filling that same place again at Ascot (2m5f; heavy) eight days ago. Not fully exposed for a nine-year-old and has to enter calculations when in this sort of form.

Form: 3P5733

Destin D'Ajonc²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128

8/1

Took a clear step forward from reappearance run when third at Wetherby (2m; soft) last time out. That was just his fourth start in a handicap, and further improvement looks very likely. Firmly in the mix.

Form: 6360/63

Ballyellis^t1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

5/1

Hasn't finished out of the placings in any of his previous seven starts. Career-high mark to defy, but produced yet another solid effort when runner-up in a higher grade at Hereford (2m3f; soft) earlier this month. Solid claims.

Form: 112112

Masters Apprentice²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: M Walford| OR: 123| D

9/2

Made a seamless transition to the handicap ranks when scoring by seven-length at Sedgefield (2m1f; soft). Up 8lb and in a better race, but stable/jockey combo are among the winners at present so he should be bang there.

Form: 121

Little Rory Mac^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 121

11/8

Landed a major gamble on just his third handicap start when winning easily at Market Rasen (2m; soft) earlier in the month. Raised 11lb for that, but he is lightly raced so could yet improve further still. Check market vibes.

Form: 543-561

Ghost Serge²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 119| C| D

25/1

Refused to race at the start of the month on first start for new yard at Lingfield (2m; heavy). That advises caution in itself, and he had been struggling for form in France before that as well. Best watched.

Form: 402-70R

Applesandpierres^v⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 113| D

20/1

Posted yet another moderate effort when 11th of 16 in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (2m5f; soft) in this grade. Isn't getting any younger and losing run is beginning to mount up.

Form: P-647F0

Non-Runners

Ball D'Arc¹⁵

Weight: 12-2| Age: 8

T: P Winks J: Alison Clarke

Karakoram³⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: G Harris J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Little Rory Mac (11/8), Masters Apprentice (9/2), Ballyellis (5/1), Aintree My Dream (11/2), Destin D'Ajonc (8/1), Karakoram (10/1), Applesandpierres (20/1), Ball D'Arc (25/1), Ghost Serge (25/1)

This is a particularly competitive affair, with a handful in with chances. Aintree My Dream is one of those, as is the consistent Ballyellis. However, that pair may be vulnerable to more lightly raced sorts. It is a matter of time before Destin D'Ajonc breaks his maiden duck given the eye-catching effort he posted last time out, while Masters Apprentice must be respected despite this looking a better contest on paper than the one he won on handicap debut. The suggestion is LITTLE RORY MAC who must defy an 11lb rise for shedding his maiden tag, but he couldn't have done that any easier. He is still lightly raced and remains open to plenty improvement.