13:30 Warwick

Saturday 8 February 2020

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

Cheltenham Preview Here Thursday 5th March Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 55.7s

Sir Egbert^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 121| D

9/1

Winner over fences and does most of his racing over them these days although best effort this season came over hurdles when second at Plumpton in November. 1lb lower here so respected although quicker ground maybe not ideal.

Form: 28-3254

Petit Palais^p1⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 120| D

12/1

Won twice as a novice on a sound surface early last year but unplaced in three subsequent handicaps. Modest AW Flat run latest does little to inspire confidence either.

Form: 1510-46

Karakoram^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 118| D

12/1

10lb higher now than Ludlow win in October but placed three times since in four starts. Seems to go well on all ground (won on good, placed on heavy) and again no reason he won't go close here.

Form: 313522

Jembug Drummer¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 118WS

33/1

Hacked up on hurdles debut at Bangor before folding tamely to finish last at Wincanton. Subsequent wind surgery may see him leave that effort behind so not forgotten here.

Form: 533-19

Ask Himself⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 117| BF

9/1

Front-runner's seconds at Hereford and Carlisle lead to him being odds-on at Kelso last time out but he folded tamely into fifth. Handicap debut here and could be a danger if getting an easy lead.

Form: 3/24-225

King D'Argent²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 115| D

11/4

2018 Juvenile hurdle scorer finished fourth in last season's Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival but struggled afterwards. Third latest his best effort this term although still beaten 23L. Others more persuasive.

Form: 4-55083

Sastruga⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 112

15/2

Major eyecatcher in second on handicap debut at Uttoxeter so much so that there was a stewards enquiry into his riding. Jumped poorly there and that the concern but big chance with a clear round.

Form: 72-7962

Sticky Situation¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 105

40/1

Long-standing maiden pulled up in last two starts and little suggestion of late that he will be making the frame today.

Form: 2507PP

Pop The Cork⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 113| D

16/1

Won a small field Uttoxeter juvenile hurdle in October but never landed a blow when a well beaten seventh subsequently in a Sandown handicap. Will need to improve greatly on that effort here.

Form: 217

Bard Of Brittany^p²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 101| BF| D

5/2

Not run a bad race since joining this yard and again ran well at Huntingdon latest when second under a 7lb penalty for his Plumpton win. Technically 3lb better off today so looks a leading contender.

Form: 382412

Briac²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 98| D

50/1

Won back-to-back races over hurdles and fences in January 2019 but winless since and ran three lifeless races this winter after a break. Hard to fancy now.

Form: 33-4700

Ishyaboi⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 98

16/1

Southwell second in November easily his best recent effort but flopped off the same mark at Exeter next and on all known evidence a miss is considerably more likely than a hit once more.

Form: 699029

Forecasts

Bard Of Brittany (5/2), King D'Argent (11/4), Sastruga (15/2), Ask Himself (9/1), Sir Egbert (9/1), Karakoram (12/1), Petit Palais (12/1), Pop The Cork (16/1), Ishyaboi (16/1), Jembug Drummer (33/1), Sticky Situation (40/1), Briac (50/1)

After completely losing his position primarily due to his ponderous jumping SASTRUGA rallied remarkably well at Uttoxeter to finish second. He must jump better to take advantage of a mark clearly well within his capabilities but he is worth chancing to do so. The biggest danger may be Bard Of Brittany who probably would have won again last time out if running off his true mark rather than under penalty. Karakoram has only won once but if he keeps knocking at the door that ought to change soon.