14:45 Wetherby

Thursday 23 January 2020

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Join Racing TV Now Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 6m 57.50s

Sergeant Brody^b,t¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 102| D

14/1

Point winner who is 0-12 under rules. Acts on testing ground and arrives in solid form after being placed at both Ffos Las (2m4f) and Lingfield (2m7f) on his last two starts. Should again be competitive.

Form: 364-633

Overworkdunderpaid²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 98| D

10/1

15-race maiden, the last nine of those runs having been over fences. Slipping in the weights, stays 3m, and has run well here over fences. Not written off on return to this discipline.

Form: 430-F65

McCrackens Gate²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 98

11/1

Placed in two of his three starts over hurdles since joining this trainer. Went close when stepped up to a similar trip at Fakenham last time. Up 3lb for that, so a bit more needed, but probably capable of going close. Acts on testing ground.

Form: 056-392

Kendelu^p1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 98

25/1

Didn't show much in novice/maiden company earlier in the season, but gave at least some cause for optimism on his recent handicap debut at Hereford (2m3f, heavy). Step up in trip looks positive and if cheekpieces help he could be a big player.

Form: 6794

Dr Time^p⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 95WS

20/1

0-7 over hurdles, but made the frame when 1lb higher at Ffos Las (3m, soft) in October, so has the ability to have a say. Not seen since having wind surgery in November, but if that has helped he could be involved.

Form: 884537

Cosheston^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 92

9/1

Showed some promise in bumpers, but despite picking up some prize money over hurdles, he has yet to kick on from there. Still early days for him, and he remains of interest now upped in trip. Acts on soft.

Form: 5337-54

Incertaine^p,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: T R Gretton| OR: 88

25/1

Came good at the sixth attempt over hurdles, when winning a mares' handicap (2m7f, soft; first-time hood/tongue-tie/cheekpieces combination) at Market Rasen in November from 3lb lower. Well held on heavy latest, and more needed.

Form: 9060-16

Jobsonfire⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 88| D

4/6

Point winner who broke his duck over hurdles at the fourth attempt at Doncaster (3m½f, good to soft). Escapes penalty for that conditionals' success, which he did by an easy 10L. Has to prove he can back it up, but looks a big player if he can.

Form: P-U9001

Leopard^h,t³¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Ryan Mania| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 85

20/1

0-18 in both codes. Best effort of seven runs over hurdles came last time when 1¾L fourth here over C&D (soft) last March. Resumes from 1lb lower, and would be interesting if the market speaks positively.

Form: F603P4-

Commanding Spirit^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82| D

66/1

Heavy ground point winner when with Jonjo O'Neill, but well held at Hexham on debut for this stable, and has failed to complete twice since (all chases). Can only watch on return to hurdles.

Form: 2/35-7FP

Real Armani^t1²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 79

22/1

Made the frame (albeit a distant second) in a Musselburgh maiden hurdle (2m4f, good) a year or so ago. Below that level since, but has slipped in the weights now, and with tongue-tie on, it would be no surprise to see him do better.

Form: 96-5766

Clondaw Fixer¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 71

25/1

Has shown very little so far under rules, with even his best effort last time out at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) resulting in a 19½L defeat. 1lb 'wrong' and others are preferred.

Form: 4/PP-P74

Forecasts

Jobsonfire (4/6), Cosheston (9/1), Overworkdunderpaid (10/1), McCrackens Gate (11/1), Sergeant Brody (14/1), Leopard (20/1), Dr Time (20/1), Real Armani (22/1), Clondaw Fixer (25/1), Incertaine (25/1), Kendelu (25/1), Commanding Spirit (66/1)

Low grade stuff, but this could be a competitive event nonetheless. Sergeant Brody is not ruled out under topweight, while Overworkdunderpaid, McCrackens Gate and partcularly Kendelu are of interest. Jobsonfire was an easy winner last time, but he now has to back that up, and Dr Time may also make an impact. However, COSHESTON looks interesting now upped in trip. He could represent a bit of value for a stable that is no stranger to shocks at this track, and he is suggested.