15:25 Wetherby

Tuesday 23 March 2021

All13:1513:4514:2014:5015:2515:5516:2516:55

Sixt Car Hire Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 3m 55.20s

Sayar^p⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 122| D

13/2

Grade 3 novice winner for Willie Mullins in 2017. Largely disappointing since, but return to this sphere/cheekpieces sparked a return to form when second at Doncaster (19.4f, soft) last time.

Form: 0/P0-P22

Eviscerating^t⁴⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: Sara Ender| OR: 121| D

50/1

Fairly useful ex-Irish hurdler. Excellent first effort for new yard when second at Hexham early last season, but well held both subsequent starts and probably best watched back from 16 months off.

Form: 4F5270-

Ask Himself²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 119| D

5/1

Improved when making a winning handicap bow at Warwick (2m, soft) last February. Little impact in 3 runs since, but it'd be dangerous to completely overlook this 7-y-o now down in class/the weights.

Form: 251-P95

Pop The Cork³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118| D

7/2

Posted best effort yet over timber when second off this mark at Uttoxeter (15.7f, heavy) in December. Well below that level next 2 starts, but he'll be a danger to all if able to bounce back here.

Form: 72-4250

Penpal²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 113

22/1

Winner of an 18.9f claimer on final start in France, but it's hard to make a case for him judged on efforts on this side of the Channel.

Form: 06-1055

Fisher Green^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 112| D

8/1

Successful at Musselburgh last season and returned to form when third of 11 there (15.6f, good) earlier this month. Mark unchanged and it's not hard to envisage him playing a part in the finish.

Form: 158-F53

Applaus^p,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 111| C| D

9/1

Sprung a surprise when scoring on return at Carlisle (17f, soft) in November. Went close back there next time, but form has taken a turn for the worse over this C&D the last twice.

Form: P6-1248

Grouseman¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 114

7/1

Modest maiden on the Flat but already better over hurdles, hitting the crossbar in juvenile hurdles at Catterick and Fakenham (both at around 2m) the last twice. Still, more needed on handicap debut.

Form: 422

Lord Caprio^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: B Haslam| OR: 104| D

14/1

Fair on Flat and similar form in juvenile events over hurdles in 2018/19. However, there were little in the way of positives to glean from his comeback run in a Newcastle handicap 2 weeks ago.

Form: 132/P

Borodin^t⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 102

5/1

Winner on the Flat in October and bettered previous hurdles form when fourth in a Market Rasen maiden next time. Has failed to build on that switched to handicaps in this sphere since, though.

Form: 7P0-487

Non-Runners

Democratic Oath²⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: K Dalgleish J: Callum Bewley

Aristo Du Plessis⁵⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 11

T: J Ewart J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Democratic Oath (11/4), Pop The Cork (7/2), Ask Himself (5/1), Borodin (5/1), Sayar (13/2), Grouseman (7/1), Fisher Green (8/1), Applaus (9/1), Aristo Du Plessis (12/1), Lord Caprio (14/1), Penpal (22/1), Eviscerating (50/1)

A chance is taken on ASK HIMSELF, who should come on for his Newcastle spin at the end of last month (first run following a 4-month break) and he's now just 2 lb higher than for his victory at Warwick last February when proving 1¼ lengths too strong for Pop The Cork. The latter may again emerge as a danger if he puts his best foot forward, while Democratic Oath and Sayar are others to consider.