14:50 Market Rasen

Sunday 15 March 2020

All14:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:0017:30

David Barratt 60th Birthday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 5m 21.84s

Versifier⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Henry Brooke| T: W Bethell| OR: 101

33/1

Beaten a head here over 3m back in November, a good effort that would give him every chance but form since then has been moderate and she appears to have gone off the boil for the time being. Drops in grade.

Form: 7-82360

Farmer Boy¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C R Dore| OR: 101| CD

8/1

Falling quickly in the handicap and there's been little to cheer about in most of his efforts over the winter. Well handicapped if he can bounce back, but hard to find a reason why that should happen.

Form: 046476

Waitonit³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 100

11/2

Only having fifth start and is open to plenty of improvement, particularly with this step up in trip for his handicap debut today. Yard a little quiet but he's one of the more interesting ones all the same.

Form: F-7546

Hear The Chimes⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: S A Harris| OR: 100| D

9/1

Huntingdon winner just over a year ago and only a couple of pounds higher here. Turned in a better effort at Sedgefield on latest start and might be on the way back to form. Drying ground a plus too.

Form: 126-894

Diamond Rose¹²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: M D Grant| T: J S Smith| OR: 99| CD

11/1

C&D winner last summer, 4lb higher here but conditions clearly no issue and the more the ground dries out, the better her chance; however, hasn't run since November and may need this to blow a few cobwebs away.

Form: 78-1136

Oxford Blu²⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 99

7/1

Some useful form as a juvenile but it's all rather gone south over the past year, never really posing a threat in his last two starts; ability is probably there but whether he cares to use it is another matter.

Form: 95F-577

Lisronagh Stone³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 96

20/1

Some signs of ability in a novice hurdle at Plumpton last spring, poor in two starts since then; goes handicapping at a realistic level and at the very least needs a look in the market for any support.

Form: F215-00

Miss Mash³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 94WS

9/2

Wins in her turn, and likes a tight track; some signs that her turn might not be that far away when finishing midfield at Huntingdon last time, and is very well handicapped at present; chances with another step forward.

Form: U84696

Molly Whuppie^h⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Paula Smith| OR: 90

50/1

Runner-up at Sedgefield last spring but that run very much the highlight of her career so far; unexposed and some improvement a possibility; seems to run better on good ground.

Form: 36692-P

Rockliffe⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88

10/1

Just four wins in 52 starts, so no win machine, and only run this winter saw him easily held; likely to need this after a break, and hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 1533-47

Invicta Lake^b,t²¹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 86| D

14/1

Well into the veteran stage now, seems to retain some enthusiasm for the game but not really threatening to win one any time soon; likely to run his race but a surprise if that's good enough.

Form: 165-554

Holy Hymn^b1,t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Lee Edwards| T: K Frost| OR: 93

20/1

Has run against some useful juveniles this winter and ran a bit better than his finishing position suggested at Doncaster last time; unexposed and a possible improver, especially if the ground continues to dry.

Form: 8560

Strategic^p1⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 82

66/1

Modest on the Flat and not doing any better over hurdles; pulled up at Doncaster last time and this looks no easier.

Form: P94P

Donald Dux^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 75

9/2

No win in eight starts but did hit the frame last time out on his fourth handicap start when stepped up in trip; possible he can build on that here and has place chances if so.

Form: 984463

Forecasts

Donald Dux (9/2), Miss Mash (9/2), Waitonit (11/2), Oxford Blu (7/1), Farmer Boy (8/1), Hear The Chimes (9/1), Rockliffe (10/1), Diamond Rose (11/1), Invicta Lake (14/1), Holy Hymn (20/1), Lisronagh Stone (20/1), Versifier (33/1), Molly Whuppie (50/1), Strategic (66/1)

This looks quite open. Waitonit would be the pick if the yard were in better form, as he is the one with plenty of room for improvement, but they are a bit quiet at the moment and preference is for HOLY HYMNm who only weakened out of it late at Doncaster last time and now tried in blinkers, might be able to finish his race off a bit better. He's open to plenty of improvement as well and the more the ground dries, the better. Money for Lisronagh Stone would make him of more interest, and the likes of Donald Dux and MIss Mash hold place chances.