13:40 Market Rasen

Thursday 16 January 2020

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:50

Racing TV Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 4m 45.41s

Strong Glance³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 121| BF

7/2

Didn't appear to be the most straightforward of conveyances when a beaten odds-on favourite at Fakenham (2m4f, soft) last month; that said, his solid back-catalogue of bumper form earns him another chance at a more conventional track.

Form: 5/1055-2

Demon D'Aunou³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118| C

9/2

Fair to say that he hasn't quite fulfilled his obvious potential (sole win came at this track in a 2m maiden in October 2017); is easing in the weights but might ideally prefer a sound racing surface.

Form: 284-545

Floating Rock³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 116

9/2

Catterick bumper winner who is steadily improving with experience over hurdles (0-4); finished a one-paced third to Methag (El Kaldoun second) on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m3½f novices') in December; a probable player.

Form: 1-5623

Uno Mas¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁶⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 115

25/1

Progressive during the early months of 2019 (five wins); kept on from off the pace to score off this mark at Cheltenham (2m1f, good) in April; low-key since, albeit probably needed the run at Warwick on New Year's Eve.

Form: 21-4450

Sleepy Haven²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: R Patrick| T: J Candlish| OR: 113

14/1

Consistent without winning for many a moon; raced prominently throughout, but was ultimately no match for the Irish raider Duchess Ravenwaves at Hexham (2m, heavy) on his penultimate start.

Form: 564223

El Kaldoun³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Anderson⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 112| BF

3/1

Polytrack bumper winner (Nov 2018); basically is low-mileage over hurdles (0-4); finished second (just in front of Floating Rock) at Doncaster (2m3½f nov h'cap) 34 days ago; attractively weighted if factoring in the 10lb claim of Mr J A Anderson.

Form: 1476-52

Farmer Boy²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Reed| T: C R Dore| OR: 112| C

25/1

Just held when runner-up at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) in September; has since left the care of Nigel Hawke and is yet to remotely threaten to deliver the goods for Conor Dore; stablemate of Collodi.

Form: 253046

Just So Cool⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 110

25/1

In touch when brought down at the third last on his return to the track at Exeter (2m7f, soft) in November; handles soft ground and just 3lb higher than when winning a similar CJ's handicap at Huntingdon (2m3½f) two years ago.

Form: 23145/B

Ratoute Yutty²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: William Marshall⁽⁸⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 110

10/1

Plugged on to finish fourth on her return to the smaller obstacles at Fontwell (2m6f, soft) on Boxing Day; her previous form figures of PPF would raise plenty of questioning eyebrows.

Form: 20PPF4

Freedelivery³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 103

25/1

Produced his best performance under rules (by some margin) when scoring at odds of 20-1 at Ffos Las (2m maiden, heavy) 31 days ago; appears reasonably handicapped from an opening mark of 103.

Form: P-20701

Minella Fiveo²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 102| CD

25/1

Often proficient during January; ready winner of this contest from an 8lb higher mark in 2019 (beat Friday Night Light by 5L); isn't getting any younger and that's perhaps his main barrier to further success; can't be wholly dismissed yet though.

Form: 53-6884

Collodi¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: C Brace| T: C R Dore| OR: 94| C

50/1

Below-par since a productive spell in the spring/summer of 2019; on balance his overall form isn't the strongest anyway and it's difficult to envisage a scenario where he'll be troubling the judge; stablemate of Farmer Boy.

Form: C2U040

Forecasts

El Kaldoun (3/1), Strong Glance (7/2), Demon D'Aunou (9/2), Floating Rock (9/2), Ratoute Yutty (10/1), Sleepy Haven (14/1), Just So Cool (25/1), Farmer Boy (25/1), Minella Fiveo (25/1), Uno Mas (25/1), Freedelivery (25/1), Collodi (50/1)

The ageing Minella Fiveo defends his race crown from an 8lb lower mark. However, the pair to concentrate upon most closely are the Doncaster rivals EL KALDOUN and Floating Rock with a clear preference for the Nicky Henderson-trained runner. He could prove attractively handicapped if factoring in the 10lb claim of Mr J A Anderson, and is basically considered to be wholly unexposed (low-mileage) over timber. For those seeking a more rewarding each-way alternative, the recent Ffos Las maiden winner Freedelivery is worthy of inspection from a perfectly fair opening handicap mark of 103.