13:00 Warwick

Wednesday 22 January 2020

All13:0013:3514:1014:4015:1515:4516:15

Try Racing TV For Free Now Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 3m 57.3s

Blacko²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 126| D

30/100

Got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt of asking when posting a smooth performance to make a winning UK debut at Taunton (2m; soft). Looks to hold The Pink'n comfortably on that form, and is arguably the one to beat.

Form: 521

The Pink'n^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 126

7/1

3lbs better off at the weights with Blacko who he finished just over 12-length behind when third to him at Taunton (2m; soft). That rival looks the more likely of the two to go onto better things. Likely to feature in the placings.

Form: 153

Guernesey⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/2

French import for connections who have enjoyed a lot of success with similar types in years gone by. By Martaline and is a half-brother to six winners. Stable enjoying a good run of form at present, & interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 52

Holy Hymn^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: K Frost

80/1

Failed to fully get involved but did show some improvement from low-key hurdles debut to finish fifth at Hereford (2m; heavy) recently. Qualifies for a handicap mark after this, and is of more interest when entering that sphere.

Form: 85

Innerpickle³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

33/1

Hard to knock his debut effort under rules when runner-up at Hereford (2m; soft) in a bumper last month. Yard tend to do well with juvenile hurdlers, and he should have a bright future. This looks a hot race though.

Form: 2

Precision Prince¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D M Loughnane

100/1

Rated just 56 on the flat, and was tailed off on hurdles debut earlier this month when last of those who completed at Hereford (2m; heavy). Masses to prove on that evidence, and others have far more pressing claims.

Form: 8

I'lletyougonow^h1⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

33/1

Hurdles newcomer who receives weight from all her rivals. Raced solely at 1m since switching to handicaps on the flat in 2019. Holds a low rating under that code (OR 71), and looks up against it in a race where others have more substantial claims.

Form:

Non-Runners

Scorched Earth²⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Blacko (30/100), Scorched Earth (4/1), Guernesey (9/2), The Pink'n (7/1), Innerpickle (33/1), I'lletyougonow (33/1), Holy Hymn (80/1), Precision Prince (100/1)

A few of these can be ruled out with confidence given how little they have showed in their careers so far. One of the more interesting contenders is Guernesey who makes his UK debut and showed promise in two starts when trained in France. He should do well for connections who have enjoyed success with similar types before. Scorched Earth arguably ran to a higher level when beaten last time out in a competitive affair, than he did when making a winning hurdles debut at Catterick. He is officially rated 1lb higher than BLACKO, but the manner in which Alan King's charge travelled on his UK debut at Taunton was particularly notable, and he can follow-up that success.