14:45 Wetherby

Tuesday 23 February 2021

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:00

Sixt Car Hire Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 4m 12.4s

Smiths Cross^b1⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore| OR: 112| D

11/1

Encouraging start over fences last season but has failed to build on that since, however, and temperament is under suspicion. Reverts to hurdles and needs to bounce back in first-time blinkers.

Form: 7-205FF

Dubai Days^h³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110| BF| D

10/3

Fair hurdler. Career best when winning 2m handicap hurdle at Newcastle before fair seventh in jumpers bumper there last month. Much respected.

Form: 25-3717

The Herds Garden²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107| D

40/1

Veteran who landed 2m Catterick handicap last month only to finish last of 12 in jumpers bumper at Newcastle three weeks ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 92-2710

Llantara^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 107| D

7/1

Three-time hurdle winner for Tom Symonds who got back on track after wind op for new yard when third of 8 in handicap at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) 19 days ago. On a good mark, so sure to go well again.

Form: 026-323

Western Rambler¹⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R D Day| T: N Mechie| OR: 104| BF| D

40/1

Modest ex-Irish maiden who opened his account on debut for for Keith Dalgleish at Hexham in October before good fourth in 2m handicap there. Back from a break with another new yard now.

Form: 7978-14

Flamboyant Joyaux⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 103| BF| CD

4/1

C&D winner who has been placed on 2 of his 3 starts over fences in recent months. Not ruled out reverting to the smaller obstacles after a two-month break.

Form: 2-47372

Foxey⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 103WS

6/1

Showed fair form in bumpers and has matched that level when in the frame in three runs over hurdles, good third of 8 in 2m handicap at Ayr on return. Since had second wind op. Needs considering.

Form: 302/24-3

Drumochter^t1⁸⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 102

66/1

Fair up to 1¼m on Flat. Showed an aptitude for hurdling towards the end of 2018 but has an absence of over 2 years to overcome. Market should prove good indicator on her comeback.

Form: 543/

En Couleur²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 107

7/2

Modest maiden on Flat who has shown similar form in three runs over hurdles, creditable fifth of 14 in handicap (9/1) at Doncaster (19.4f) ast month. May still do better so not dismissed.

Form: 435

Cuban Sun¹⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alexander Fielding⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 98

66/1

Fair 1m2f Flat winner. Twice runner-up in maiden hurdles for Kelly Morgan but was let down by her jumping in first-time cheekpieces on her final start for that yard in September. Needs more.

Form: 282-005

Cilluirid^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95

12/1

Got back on track when making all at Catterick in December but ridden too aggressively when well held both runs since. No forlorn hope off 2 lb lower mark now.

Form: P-2P1P0

Wishful Thinking^h1¹⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 92WS

200/1

Little impact over hurdles in Ireland for Henry De Bromhead and on yard debut when pulled up in 2m Newcastle handicap in November. Had breathing op and hood on now with lots to prove.

Form: 0-8050P

Panic Over^h1⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 90

200/1

Offered little in handful of starts in Ireland and fared no better starting out for this yard at Catterick last month. Vast improvement required now pitched into a handicap in first-time hood.

Form: 8P905

Ex S'elance¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 83

12/1

Has proved unreliable but cashed in on reduced mark to land a gamble in 2m3f handicap at Cattercik last month. More needed off 5 lb higher here so others appeal more.

Form: 72-P801

Forecasts

Dubai Days (10/3), En Couleur (7/2), Flamboyant Joyaux (4/1), Foxey (6/1), Llantara (7/1), Smiths Cross (11/1), Ex S'elance (12/1), Cilluirid (12/1), Western Rambler (40/1), The Herds Garden (40/1), Cuban Sun (66/1), Drumochter (66/1), Panic Over (200/1), Wishful Thinking (200/1)

A case can be made for a few here but the most persuasive one is for LLANTARA who showed the benefit of a wind op when a recent excellent third at Ffos Las and is weighted to go very close. Newcastle-winner Dubai Days is feared most now back hurdling after a fair bumper run, while Foxey has few miles on the clock so could do better yet after a wind op.