16:30 Ffos Las

Friday 6 March 2020

All14:1514:5015:2515:5516:3017:00

Milford Waterfront Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 50.70s

Never Equalled^b³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 112| CD

12/1

Course specialist; won for the fourth time at this track when justifying favouritism in a Class 3 handicap hurdle (2m6f, soft) in November; underwhelming since and remains 4lb above that 'winning' mark; is set to carry plenty of weight (12st).

Form: 5U1464

Poucor⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: M Goldstein| T: M R Channon| OR: 112| BF

9/1

Ploughed through the mud when ridden out to hold the late challenge of Sir Egbert at Plumpton (2m, heavy) in November; largely consistent since, albeit there are some minor question marks regarding his stamina reserves over 2m4f.

Form: 4-14836

Barntown^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 110| D

11/4

Gained compensation for a final flight fall when returning to Lingfield Park (2m3½f, heavy) to score the following week - beat Theo's Charm by 2½L; undoubtedly has faced stiffer tasks since at Cheltenham (2m1f) and Sandown (2m4f).

Form: 6-6F168

Call Me Sid³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P Mason⁽⁷⁾| T: J Mason| OR: 108

5/2

Just the sole win from 13 starts (at odds of 100-1 in a 2m5½f maiden at Ludlow, soft in January 2018); that said, hasn't necessarily been disgraced since - weakened when a 5L runner-up to No Rematch here (3m, heavy) five weeks ago.

Form: 86-0272

Jac Brown³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 106| C

8/1

Drew well clear when winning a six-runner bumper here (2m, good) in May 2019; 0-3 over hurdles, including when finishing third here (2m, heavy) on debut at odds of 5-4; stamina in doubt (albeit is a half-brother to a winning 2m4f-3m chaser).

Form: 4-19355

The Wire Flyer^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 104

14/1

13-race maiden; has shown some ability over 2m on a testing surface (runner-up at odds of 50-1 here in November); is excused a 50L defeat (fourth) to the Imperial Cup bound Main Fact here five weeks ago; others thought more probable.

Form: 52064

Saint Dalina⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 101

10/1

Six-race maiden; finished well down the field on recent handicap debut at Exeter (2m2½f, heavy); was previously beaten 20L by the 2-7f Shan Blue in a Southwell maiden (2m, heavy); needs to show improvement in order to play a constructive role.

Form: 3-98626

Astra Via³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 96

15/2

Seven-race maiden (placed on four of those runs); ran her best race to date at Taunton (2m3f, soft) five weeks ago when a staying on third to Tactical Manoeuvre; should remain competitive with her riders 7lb claim helpful.

Form: 422-733

Forecasts

Call Me Sid (5/2), Barntown (11/4), Astra Via (15/2), Jac Brown (8/1), Poucor (9/1), Saint Dalina (10/1), Never Equalled (12/1), The Wire Flyer (14/1)

Barntown is one of a number of runners with heavy ground form and he could feasibly appreciate this less taxing assignment (than at Cheltenham & Sandown). Meanwhile, the likes of Never Equalled (high in the handicap), Call Me Sid (100-1 Ludlow maiden hurdle winner) and Jac Brown (bumper winner) all have previous Ffos Las experience to draw upon. However, the solution may just lie at the foot of the weights with the Evan Williams-trained mare ASTRA VIA. Although a seven-race maiden, she has shown consistent form and ran her best race to date at Taunton (third) five weeks ago. This could be her day to shine under the capable 7lb claimer Isabel Williams.