15:40 Warwick

Tuesday 31 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:40

Local Parking Security Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 1.85s

Allenby

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

7/2

21-128 with bumper newcomers last five years (3-13 at Warwick) this Presenting gelding has to be respected from a top yard. Dam unraced half-sister to smart hurdler/useful chaser Raya Star and fairly useful chaser Greensalt; worth shortlisting.

Form:

Counteract²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss S Smith

50/1

Pedigree would suggest that he would need more of a stamina test and that's the way it looked on his Plumpton debut; finished well held. Likely to need more time and hard to make a case for here.

Form: 5

Cronk Y Knox

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: W Greatrex

12/1

Yard have a 19% strike-rate with bumper newcomers (last five years) rising to 30% with the course debutants in this sphere. Closely related to modest hurdler Wells Gold; yard not quite firing this year though, may be one for later.

Form:

Felton Bellevue²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case

50/1

Finished second in 3m maiden point-to-point on his second start; now makes his Rules debut. Yard 3-33 with bumper debutants last five years (0-7 at this course); would be an unlikely winner.

Form: P-2

Funway Monarch²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King

50/1

Very little to be positive about from his initial start in this sphere. Reported to have been kicked at the start and immediately pulled up at Exeter earlier in the month; hard to fashion a case for him.

Form: P

Hurricane Mitch

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

7/2

Newcomer from a yard with a good record in this sphere (withdrawn on his intended debut). Yard have a 26% strike rate with bumper newcomers past five years (0-5 at this track); should be worth noting for positive market vibes.

Form:

Joint Account¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: D Frankland

66/1

Ran to a poor level in a Perth summer bumper when with Colin McBratney, beaten 22L in to fourth. Subsequently sold for £5,000 in September and now makes his debut for this yard; one of the lesser lights in the race.

Form: 4

Lightonthewing²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

66/1

From a yard that don't really shine in this sphere he did show a little bit of promise on his Exeter debut but looked one for the longer time. Started as an 80-1 chance last time and likely to be at those odds plus this time around.

Form: 0

Robelli

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: Ian Williams

20/1

Yard 7-42 with bumper newcomers, past five years (2-4 here); €28,000 3yo, dam unraced sister to 3m hurdle winner Pinerock, half-sister to 2m6f-3m4f hurdle/useful chase winner Torduff Express; worth a glance in the market given yard's record here.

Form:

Scarpia

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

7/1

Newcomer from a top-class yard who are already 10-30 in this sphere this season (also have a fine record with debutants). Has a decent pedigree, dam point-to-point and hurdles winner; market will give a good indication as to expectations.

Form:

Tip Top Cat

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

12/1

Debutant from a yard who are 0-13 with this type here in the last five years; €32,000 3yo. Dam unraced half-sister to smart hurdler/top-class chaser Woolcombe Folly, still of interest if there is any market interest.

Form:

What A Baloo^p³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

33/1

Cheekpieces worn for her debut remain having looked the stable second string on her debut. Looked in need of the experience on that occasion and this outing likely to bring him on some more.

Form: 9

Wilde About Oscar³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

2/1

Has a pedigree that appealed and looks to set the standard here on account on his Southwell debut second to one that has been an impressive winner again. Well up to winning an event such as this with his debut form looking strong already.

Form: 2

Wireless Operator

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: B Pauling

8/1

Yard 4-17 with their bumper newcomers in the last five tears so this gelded son of Presenting deserves some respect. Related to a couple of bumpers winners including the useful Good Boy Bobby; should make his mark in this sphere.

Form:

Non-Runners

Dee Lane¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: G Hanmer J: Alexander Thorne

Eyeofthescorpion

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Kielan Woods

Mint Condition⁸⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: J Candlish J: Jamie Bargary

Presentedwithwings⁵⁹⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: T Symonds J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Wilde About Oscar (2/1), Hurricane Mitch (7/2), Allenby (7/2), Scarpia (7/1), Wireless Operator (8/1), Tip Top Cat (12/1), Cronk Y Knox (12/1), Presentedwithwings (12/1), Mint Condition (12/1), Robelli (20/1), What A Baloo (33/1), Eyeofthescorpion (33/1), Felton Bellevue (50/1), Funway Monarch (50/1), Counteract (50/1), Dee Lane (50/1), Lightonthewing (66/1), Joint Account (66/1)

2015 was the last time that this event was won by a newcomer but with nine in this field and some decent ones at that it may well be time for that group to score again. Hurricane Mitch, Allenby, Scarpia and Wireless Operator form a strong quartet of those seeing a racecourse under Rules for the first time and all hail from stable with good records in this sphere. Of those to have run Mint Condition makes some appeal but it’s the form of WILDE ABOUT OSCAR that stands out. Second to yesterday’s impressive Haydock winner Ask A Honey Bee this son of Oscar looks set to make a bold bid here to open his account for the Skelton yard.