16:15 Wetherby

Monday 2 March 2020

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:45

Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 3m 57.10s

Khage³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 135| D

9/1

Won three times as a novice and although he's found things a little tougher this season his close third to Secrete Stream here (2m3½f, soft) was a step in the right direction; swiftly re-routed from Saturday's cancelled Newbury fixture.

Form: 11-55P3

Secrete Stream³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 134| CD

11/1

Boasts a solid strike-rate over hurdles (5-14) and strongest when the mud is flying; 4lb higher than when all out to repel Weather Front (Khage third) over 2m3½f here (soft) four weeks ago; the drop back to 2m is a slight concern.

Form: 53/16-61

Zizaneur⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

14/1

Demonstrated plenty of ability as a juvenile hurdler - rated 133 when an 8L runner-up to Christopher Wood at Newbury (2m½f, gd/sft) last March; has failed to complete in four starts this season (UPUU) - latterly over fences; still a major player.

Form: 20-FPUU

Flegmatik²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| CD

3/1

Unexposed Fuisse gelding; hacked up when winning a juvenile hurdle over C&D in December 2018; clear second best to Fransham on handicap debut here (2m, soft) in November before contesting the Gr 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (13th); interesting.

Form: 513-20

McGowan's Pass³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 125| D

7/1

Useful earlier in his career (bumpers/novice hurdles); landed some good bets on his return to the track at Ayr (2m, heavy) early in the New Year; lost precious little in defeat to The Con Man at Kelso (2m5f, soft) subsequently; merits respect.

Form: 4/U48-12

Keyboard Gangster^t¹²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 124| D

22/1

Sprung a 28-1 surprise in a Cl 2 handicap hurdle at Kelso (2m, heavy) in the spring of 2018; has failed to progress since (just four starts) and competes from a 6lb lower mark as a result; tends to race keenly.

Form: 31/764-6

Baracalu^p¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 124| D

16/1

Became disappointing for Sandy Thomson and more latterly Tristan Davidson; joined this stable out of a Market Rasen selling handicap and back on track since, winning a Leicester claimer and posting a fair front-running shift at Ludlow (third).

Form: 43-3113

Gennady⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 123| D

33/1

Won for the second time for Keith Dalgleish (and Straightline Bloodstock) when a gritty winner at Newcastle (2m½f, soft) early in the New Year; 6lb higher (tough mark); has switched stables to connections known for further improving horses.

Form: 541431

Main Fact³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 123| C| D

6/4

Ex-Dianne Sayer (left for £6,000 in May 2018); absent from racing for 18 months thereafter but has proved his worth for David Pipe by winning back-to-back races at Uttoxeter & Ffos Las (2m, soft/heavy); seeks a four-timer from an elevated mark.

Form: 14/3111

Forecasts

Main Fact (6/4), Flegmatik (3/1), McGowan's Pass (7/1), Khage (9/1), Secrete Stream (11/1), Zizaneur (14/1), Baracalu (16/1), Keyboard Gangster (22/1), Gennady (33/1)

The four-timer seeking Main Fact & Khage (third to Secrete Stream previously) are re-routed from Saturday's cancelled fixture at Newbury. The David Pipe-trained runner remains at the right end of the handicap despite a combined 12lb rise for wins at Uttoxeter and Ffos Las, and he'll appreciate these testing conditions. However, there are possibly better-priced each-way alternatives, which include the thoroughly likeable McGowan's Pass and the perfectly capable ZIZANEUR. The selection has failed to complete a race this season (UPUU) and while that's not exactly a ringing endorsement, he makes appeal as a potentially interesting candidate back over hurdles.