16:20 Wetherby

Monday 8 March 2021

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:5017:20

Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 3m 59.86s

Chti Balko¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 137| D

14/1

Wide-margin winner at Haydock in the mud in December but not so good on next 2 starts, pulled up before straight in handicap hurdle at Ascot (19.3f, soft) 16 days ago. Needs to bounce back but he can.

Form: 24-615P

Shantou Express⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 134| D

85/40

On the up over hurdles recently, scoring in 17f maiden at Exeter in October and easily following up in novice hurdle at Sedgefield in December. Unable to land a blow in Grade 2 since so may feature.

Form: 3-22115

Haafapiece⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 132| D

5/1

Ended last season on the up with a pair of wins and continued the good work at this course late last year. Running a cracker before falling last at Cheltenham 3 months ago so player if none the worse.

Form: 211-42F

Pay The Piper²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 129

2/1

Point winner who maintained his unbeaten record under Rules when following up by the narrowest of margins at Carlisle last month. More to come on handicap bow, so another bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 3-U3111

Countister^p1¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 120| D

50/1

Close third in 2019 County Hurdle but lightly raced and not competitive since. Fared no better on first outing since leaving Nicky Henderson so remains opposable.

Form: 0/78-8P6

Da Vinci Hand^t1⁵⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 120

50/1

9f winner on Flat in Italy in 2017 and successful in 2019/20 in 4-y-o events at Wissembourg and Nancy over timber in 2019. Sold €40,000 and interesting to see what the market says on yard debut.

Form: P81-

Saint Arvans^h,t⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 117| D

11/1

Off the mark in a Kelso maiden in October and got back on the up to win for a second time there on handicap bow 3 months ago, quickening clear after last. Respected up 7 lb.

Form: 844151

Diodorus^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 116| CD

12/1

Fair Flat winner who built on promising hurdle debut second when going one better at over C&D 12 months ago. Little impact on both starts last month so others preferred today.

Form: 21-2244

Applaus^t⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 113| C| D

12/1

Sprung a surprise when scoring on return at Carlisle (17f, soft) in November. Went close back there next time but reminded that he's not straightforward over C&D on Boxing Day, looking half-hearted.

Form: 4P6-124

Forecasts

Pay The Piper (2/1), Shantou Express (85/40), Haafapiece (5/1), Saint Arvans (11/1), Diodorus (12/1), Applaus (12/1), Chti Balko (14/1), Da Vinci Hand (50/1), Countister (50/1)

This can go to Pam Sly's HAAFAPIECE, who was running a cracker before taking a crashing fall late on at Cheltenham in December and can make amends nudged up just a couple of pounds. Pay The Piper maintained his unbeaten record under Rules at Carlisle last month but may have to settle for silver here, with Chti Balko another interesting contender.