16:20 Market Rasen

Tuesday 4 February 2020

All13:4014:1014:4515:1515:5016:20

Betway Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 15.1s

Ballyhome⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| BF| C| D

4/1

Consistent type over hurdles last season with two wins on good ground over further, including here. Pulled up on both chase starts, but better than that would imply, and not taken for granted back in this sphere.

Form: 321-6PP

Sermando¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118| D

7/4

Showed much improved form on second handicap try when scoring comfortably at Huntingdon last time by 1½L from Twenty Twenty. A 4lb rise looks to err on the side of leniency, and he has leading claims on paper.

Form: 736-71

Our Dot's Baby^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Page Fuller| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 117| D

16/1

Did well for Jeremy Scott last season, but has struggled to make much of an impact in three starts for a new yard this term, and best watched until showing more.

Form: 133-P65

Flash De Clerval³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117| BF

9/1

Best effort over hurdles when winning a weak Leicester maiden by 23L in December. Below that level under a penalty at Newcastle next time, though, and perhaps flattered by margin of his win.

Form: 43-6814

Northern Bound²⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁶⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 113WS

33/1

Winner of a novice at Ludlow in November 2018, but well beaten on both starts since, and hopes rest on a breathing operation restoring him to his old form.

Form: 2915-P

Steady Away⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 112

6/1

Mixed messages in two bumpers last term but was good second on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter in October. Below form since, but stiff task last time, and feeling remains that he's capable of better in this sphere.

Form: 70-266

Farmer Boy¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Reed| T: C R Dore| OR: 110| CD

20/1

Third in a seller at Taunton in November and kept busy since, but has been below form in handicaps on recent starts, and may need his sights lowered to be competitive.

Form: 530464

Starsky^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 110

5/1

Not one of stable's stars, but improved on handicap debut when third of 16 to Lightly Squeeze in a conditionals event at Taunton in December. Ought to do better, and not taken lightly.

Form: 23-6373

Envol De La Cour⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore| OR: 108

10/1

Last hurdles run came off 16lb higher, and perhaps best to forgive a couple of poor chase runs for Claire Dyson this season. Has since moved yards, and betting likely to be informative.

Form: 1746-PP

Forecasts

Sermando (7/4), Ballyhome (4/1), Starsky (5/1), Steady Away (6/1), Flash De Clerval (9/1), Envol De La Cour (10/1), Our Dot's Baby (16/1), Farmer Boy (20/1), Northern Bound (33/1)

A small rise for his recent win at Huntingdon looks to underplay how much SERMANO had in hand, and he looks the likeliest winner on that showing, albeit with some potentially dangerous rivals. Starsky heads that list after an improved run last time, but a market check is essential regarding the claims of both Envol de La Cour and Steady Away, who are better than recent efforts would imply. The former in particular is well treated on the pick of his hurdles form from last season.