14:30 Hereford

Thursday 17 December 2020

All12:2512:5513:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

RE HR Solutions Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 10.23s

Long Call^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: A W Carroll| OR: 115| CD

7/1

C&D winner but he found little when fourth of 6 in 15f handicap hurdle at Wincanton 14 days ago. Tongue strap back on now with a bit to prove.

Form: 0703/64

Scorpion Haze⁶²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: A Stronge| OR: 115

18/1

Fairly useful form in bumpers/novice hurdles without winning but not seen out for 20 months. Into handicaps for comeback with his fitness a clear concern.

Form: 323554/

Song Of The Hunter²⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 114| D

11/2

Winning Irish pointer who made all on Taunton hurdle debut (16.5f) in March. Off since but he's open to improvement on handicap debut so not taken lightly.

Form: P/3F151-

Cawthorne Lad³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 113| D

10/1

Modest Flat winner for Tim Easterby who also scored over hurdles at Catterick last term. Being brought along steadily for new yard and falling in the weights so not dismissed. Worth market check.

Form: 3133-90

Rootless Tree⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 112| D

33/1

Fairly useful winning 2m hurdler for Nigel Twiston-Davies but yet to show much in two runs for new handler this term. Needs a big step forward now.

Form: 1P57-F0

The Garrison²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 107| D

6/1

Opened his account in 2m Uttoxeter handicap in October but below that level subsequently, fifth of 9 in 2m handicap at Taunton 21 days ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 5-61865

Mongol Emperor^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 107

12/1

Winning pointer who has hinted at promise in three runs over hurdles, hood on when eighth of 10 in 2m novice at Lingfield last time. Into handicaps now so not dismissed for good yard.

Form: 241-768

Demopolis^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 105| D

11/10

Different proposition since tongue tied, winning twice at Ludlow last term, and resumed with excellent second of 11 in 2m Market Rasen handicap. Weighted to have a big say here nudged up just 1 lb.

Form: 94114-2

Non-Runners

Hijran³⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Henry Oliver J: Ben Godfrey

Don't Ask³⁴

Weight: 11-11| Age: 7

T: A M Hales J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Demopolis (11/10), Song Of The Hunter (11/2), The Garrison (6/1), Long Call (7/1), Cawthorne Lad (10/1), Mongol Emperor (12/1), Hijran (14/1), Don't Ask (14/1), Scorpion Haze (18/1), Rootless Tree (33/1)

A few of these offer potential but it's hard to ignore the rock-solid claims of DEMOPOLIS who hasn't looked back since the tongue tie went on and can provide the resurgent Philip Hobbs with another winner after his fine reappearance Market Rasen second. Handicap-debutant Song of The Hunter lacks a recent run but is still much respected with Mongol Emperor and Cawthorne Lad worth considering too.