12:53 Wetherby

Saturday 26 December 2020

All11:5012:2012:5313:2814:0514:4015:13

William Hill Extra Places Every Day Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:53 | Winning time: 5m 27.41s

Imperial Icon³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 110| D

3/1

Encouraging signs in novice hurdles and suited by step up in trip on second handicap start when striking at Hereford (19.7f, soft) last month. Can go well again up 6 lb.

Form: 26-871

Brother Pat⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

22/1

Just minor promise in maiden/novice hurdles and while he's the type to do better now making the switch to handicaps, others make greater appeal.

Form: 99-733

Loughermore¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 105

5/1

Maiden pointer/hurdler who likely remains a shade too high in the weights for a handicap like this.

Form: 5-64434

Kangaroo Valley^b1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 103

8/1

Fairly useful Flat performer but yet to trouble the judge over hurdles (well backed a couple of times). Needs to find improvement from somewhere in change of headgear. Yard have a good record in this.

Form: 648-845

Raddle And Hum⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

20/1

Runner-up in this race off 1 lb higher mark last year, but has failed to build on that in 3 subsequent starts, including when well held on return here in October. All headgear left off.

Form: 84246-9

Blaster Yeats²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 101

13/2

Point winner who posted his best effort yet over hurdles when fourth at Hexham in November. 3m on deep ground was too much of a test here last time and worth another chance back at this trip.

Form: 32-7845

Cyrus Keep^b³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 98

13/2

Showed ability in novice events and better efforts switched to handicaps the last twice, latterly third of 13 off this mark in first-time blinkers at Southwell (20.4f, good to soft). Key player.

Form: 853-533

Cuba Ruba^b,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Bewley| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97

50/1

Modest Flat winner who has failed to improve for the switch to handicaps the last twice, latterly beaten 20 lengths in first-time tongue tie at Newcastle. Needs to raise his game.

Form: 43675

Eglantier^h1⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: M Bradstock| OR: 96

18/1

Won his sole bumper outing last year, but efforts in this sphere to date have been underwhelming (well beaten on handicap debut on return). Down in trip with hood fitted now.

Form: 1/454-6

High Moor Flyer²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 110

14/1

Little impact on the Flat, but promising start in this sphere when runner-up at Leicester. Struggled in listed company next time and this is a far more realistic assignment now handicapping.

Form: 24

Kyoto Star^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss C R Crane⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95

25/1

Modest Flat winner who showed more spark when fourth on recent handicap debut in this sphere at Newcastle (16.2f, soft). 3 lb lower now and going up in trip here may help unlock improvement.

Form: 7556

Kildrum²⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 87

33/1

Winless following 9 runs between the flags and half-a-dozen under Rules, first-flight faller on sole previous hurdles start at Thurles in February. Debut for new yard.

Form: 3209FF-

My Strong Man⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 84

17/2

Improved when fourth on handicap bow at Newcastle in January, but well beaten all 3 subsequent starts in this sphere. 1 of 2 for yard with good record in this race.

Form: 5748-08

I'm Easy¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Nick Barratt-Atkin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 85

80/1

Little show in minor events/maiden on Flat and no impact in 3 juvenile hurdles. Can't be fancied from out of the weights.

Form: 559

Non-Runners

Busy Street³²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: R Menzies J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Imperial Icon (3/1), Loughermore (5/1), Blaster Yeats (13/2), Cyrus Keep (13/2), Busy Street (8/1), Kangaroo Valley (8/1), My Strong Man (17/2), High Moor Flyer (14/1), Eglantier (18/1), Raddle And Hum (20/1), Brother Pat (22/1), Kyoto Star (25/1), Kildrum (33/1), Cuba Ruba (50/1), I'm Easy (80/1)

IMPERIAL ICON rather stands out as the only previous hurdles winner in the line-up and impressed with his attitude to boot when getting the job done at Hereford. He can follow up after a 6 lb rise. Cyrus Keep and Blaster Yeats are a couple of the other key players.