14:15 Hereford

Friday 3 January 2020

All12:4013:1013:4014:1514:4515:2015:55

Best Odds Guaranteed At MansionBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 7m 13.84s

Broughtons Admiral^b³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121| C

11/2

Dual winner only ran once over 3m and that was arguably a career best when second at Cheltenham last April. Since joined this prolific yard and although he fell on debut for the team he is highly respected here now upped in trip again.

Form: 2212-3F

Fontley House³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 119

6/1

Off the mark at Kempton last time out where he gamely scored over 3m½f. Handicapper raised him 4lb for that win which was probably slightly lenient and a bold bid to follow up is now fully expected.

Form: 3-24921

Vaziani^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 118

9/2

Second over 2m4½f at Plumpton penultimately was promising but disappointing next at Taunton. First time beyond 2m5f today so stamina the question mark; mixed messages in past performance.

Form: 75F-029

Holly James²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115

13/2

2m Ffos Las novice winner lying in second when a faller two out next over 2m7f under penalty. Handicap debut today and open to plenty of improvement over this sort of trip given plentiful stamina in pedigree.

Form: 181F

Volcano²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 112

12/1

Bumper winner 0-9 over hurdles but made the frame six times for previous handler Nigel Twiston-Davies. Less inspiring in two runs for this yard so enthusiasm waning now.

Form: 5322-70

Late Shipment^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 104| CD

7/2

Triple C&D winner and second beaten just ¾L here last time out too. Vulnerable to the less exposed runners but hard to envisage anything but a bold bid.

Form: 815-662

Waiheke⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: L Heard| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 103

8/1

Second over 2m3½f at Chepstow latest and did look like she might be ready for a step up in trip having been outpaced before staying on again. Of course a step up of this magnitude poses a few doubts but chance if she lasts it out.

Form: 6707-62

Rosserk Abbey^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 100

9/1

Winner over 2m5½f at Exeter in October and twice second since before weakening into fifth from the front there last time out. Chance to stay hinges on his often keen going nature.

Form: 4F1225

Steel Native¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D A Rees| OR: 97

40/1

Tailed off 12th here in December and unseated when looking beaten two days later at favoured venue Ffos Las. Makes no appeal now.

Form: 5-FP50U

Forecasts

Late Shipment (7/2), Vaziani (9/2), Broughtons Admiral (11/2), Fontley House (6/1), Holly James (13/2), Waiheke (8/1), Rosserk Abbey (9/1), Volcano (12/1), Steel Native (40/1)

A chance is taken on handicap debutant HOLLY JAMES who had the class to win a novice hurdle over 2m despite the fact he will almost certainly want further going forward. His fall when in second at Chepstow is a concern but that may just have protected his mark coming into this so he could now prove well handicapped. Despite only running once over 3m Broughtons Admiral ran really well in his only exposure to such a trip and having since joined a yard with a healthy knack for eeking out improvement he too is feared despite also falling latest. Last-time out winner Fontley House and course specialist Late Shipment add to the intrigue of a warm contest.