16:15 Leicester

Wednesday 29 January 2020

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:15

Six Hills Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 5m 49.2s

Over Stated^h⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 110

8/1

Shaped well after a long absence when third at Warwick but fell early on handicap debut last time. Nicely backed that day so evidently was expected to go well.

Form: F156/3F

Thoor Castle²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 110

5/1

Point-to-point winner a year ago and while hurdling career got off to a slow start, she looked much better at Warwick last time when third, a long way clear of the remainder. Now handicapping and no surprise should she take another step forward.

Form: 5P1-483

Ventura Dragon^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 104

17/2

Reported by jockey to have been amiss when pulled up last time but second at Hereford prior to that puts him in the mix with ability to cope with bad ground and this trip both guaranteed.

Form: 23462P

Drewmain Legend^b³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: A Stronge| OR: 104| BF| C

3/1

In fine form this winter dropped down to 2m and followed her course win with solid third in a better race at Newbury. Lots of form at this longer trip so no reason why she shouldn't play a major role.

Form: 041-213

Vereina^p⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 97| BF| D

14/1

Massively improved in November with two wide margin wins on heavy ground. May have found her defeat last time coming too soon and rested since but this is a stronger contest than those she won.

Form: 455115

Sabbathical^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 96

4/1

Brought along with handicaps in mind so not surprisingly fared better when 2l third at Plumpton last week. May have finished closer but for been checked so should have more to come and place claims again.

Form: 2-8P703

Man Of The North²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 92

7/1

Bounced back to form after a lean spell when gamely winning at Uttoxeter. Both career wins have been gained at 2m and has yet to reach the frame at this longer trip which is a concern.

Form: 174-071

Mr Fitzroy^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: James Davies| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 87

20/1

Have to go back to 2017 for the last of his three wins and hasn't looked like putting that right this season so not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 4/50-P63

Milan Of Crystal^t⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: A Whitehead| OR: 86| D

11/1

Shaped a bit better when fourth of 18 on heavy ground latest but all career wins have been gained on good and the suspicion remains that some of her rivals will appreciate this test more than she does.

Form: 633354

Forecasts

Drewmain Legend (3/1), Sabbathical (4/1), Thoor Castle (5/1), Man Of The North (7/1), Over Stated (8/1), Ventura Dragon (17/2), Milan Of Crystal (11/1), Vereina (14/1), Mr Fitzroy (20/1)

Drewmain Legend has plenty in her favour and arrives on the back of a solid third at Newbury but it may pay to take a chance with the lightly raced THOOR CASTLE who shaped well when third behind the form pair in a novice hurdle last term and her opening mark doesn't look too stiff. Sabbathical shaped much better last week and if this doesn't come too soon, he may fare best of the rest.