15:05 Warwick

Sunday 8 March 2020

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Elizabeth Jackson Charitable Trust Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 38.8s

Arctic Gold⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116

4/1

Five-time winner over hurdles though not since 2016; on a very workable mark starting out for new yard and not beaten far at Ludlow in December on final start for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Form: 70-5433

Nifty At Fifty^t1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 116| D

10/1

Has his quirks which may explain 1-13 record over hurdles, scoring on good ground at Wincanton in December. 6lb higher now and has run out/underperformed in two starts since; tongue-tied now and risky.

Form: 0U21R4

Lunar Baby⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 116| CWS

8/1

Returns from wind op having finished second twice at end of last year, including over C&D. There appears little room for error from current mark but stable/jockey in good form and worth considering.

Form: 175-722

Steal A March⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 115

7/1

Stayed on in most game fashion to get up right on the line at Hereford in a novice hurdle last time out, although form of that win open to question; given a fair shake by the handicapper though, and handles this ground, so has to have chances.

Form: 441

Coillte Eile²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 115

20/1

Both wins over timber have come at around 3m and very tame stuff in three most recent starts leaves him with plenty to ponder at this stage.

Form: 171889

Holly James⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 114

16/1

Kelso bumper winner in May and opened account over hurdles at second attempt in Ffos Las novice (2m, soft; 10-1) in November. Out of luck both starts since over 3m (including a fall) but there should be better to come and drop in trip a plus.

Form: 181F7

So Lonely^h,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 112| C

50/1

Gained third success over hurdles when scoring here in May (2m, good; 7-4f) but has lost her way in four starts since and getting harder to place faith in as a result.

Form: 310670

Howaboutrightnow⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: W S Kittow| OR: 112

28/1

Unplaced in three starts over hurdles but, in fairness, has run into some above-average rivals in that sequence; likely doesn't face anything of such quality as Sporting John or Sir Psycho this time.

Form: 55005

Moroder⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 111

10/1

Has run with credit in all three novice hurdles, twice-placed behind Cheltenham Festival-bound Cat Tiger; soft ground will suit and should take close order if handing the traffic problems in this bigger field.

Form: 21-342

Just So Cool^v1¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 110

22/1

1-12 over timber but usually consistent. Runner-up at Market Rasen on seasonal bow but pulled up in both starts since and visor is reached for in latest attempt to coax a better effort.

Form: 45/B2PP

Thoor Castle³⁹

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

8/1

Runner-up effort over C&D in December well-advertised since by the front pair (Listed/Grade 2 wins since) and perhaps didn't relish the very testing ground next time at Leicester (second); has to be respected back at this venue.

Form: P1-4832

Robin Gold⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 107

40/1

Long way clear of last win-mark of 90 and hasn't managed to strike any sort of blow in two starts for Dan Skelton; plenty more needed.

Form: 0070F9

Larcadio¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 105

28/1

Wining Irish point-to-pointer produced a better effort when stepped up in distance here last time (2m3f, heavy; 100-1) to finish fifth of seven. Opening handicap mark is no gimme but room for progress.

Form: F1-5095

Hidden Glen^b1⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 105| D

33/1

Fortunate winner of a four-runner 2m5f novices' hurdle at Kempton (good) in October 2018; missed chunks of time since and pulled up both recent chase starts. First-time blinkers on now back hurdling with yard in better form.

Form: 7/71-6PP

Laurie Come On⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 105

25/1

Not without promise in three starts over hurdles, two of them at Plumpton over this sort of trip; down the field in decent Novices' contest at Exeter on New Year's Day but could do better now handicapping.

Form: 9530

Jacke Is Back³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 105

50/1

Nothing to report in three hurdles run for this trainer since arriving from France and leap of faith needed now as such.

Form: 5F2P9P

Avantgardist¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 104| CD

8/1

Won this contest last year from a 3lb lower mark and most recent Ludlow effort (2m5f, soft; 14-1) was a better showing; capable of defying this mark on best form and needs close watching in betting.

Form: 13-04P5

Defuture Is Bright⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 103

9/1

Maiden struggled in opening handicap but managed third at Ascot latest, albeit beaten just under 13L. Gets another 5lb relief and that should help push him towards being competitive.

Form: 284303

Invincible Cave^h1⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 102

33/1

50-1 third over this trip on soft ground at Wincanton in early January but has produced nothing like that in three outings since; sliding down the ratings should the first-time hood spark his enthusiasm.

Form: 0949P7

Non-Runners

Sandymount Rose⁸⁴

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Arctic Gold (4/1), Steal A March (7/1), Lunar Baby (8/1), Thoor Castle (8/1), Avantgardist (8/1), Defuture Is Bright (9/1), Moroder (10/1), Nifty At Fifty (10/1), Sandymount Rose (12/1), Holly James (16/1), Coillte Eile (20/1), Just So Cool (22/1), Laurie Come On (25/1), Larcadio (28/1), Howaboutrightnow (28/1), Invincible Cave (33/1), Hidden Glen (33/1), Robin Gold (40/1), Jacke Is Back (50/1), So Lonely (50/1)

Steal A March made heavy weather of justifying cramped odds at Hereford in December and the form has taken its share of knocks since, the Royal runner has some improving to do on handicap debut. Sandymount Rose and Lunar Baby have both finished second the last twice and command respect while last year's winner Avantgardist offered a reminder of his ability with a better showing at Ludlow recently. Moroder can improve and be involved but THOOR CASTLE was behind two smart sorts here in December and likely wasn't in love with heavy ground at Leicester (second). Emma Lavelle's daughter of Yeats can boost confidence in the yard ahead of a big week.