16:25 Wetherby

Tuesday 23 March 2021

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

BoscaSports Retail Tote Displays Worldwide Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 6m 15.60s

Megaudais Speed³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 99| D

6/1

Lightly-raced 9-y-o. Off 15 months, 11 lengths second of 19 in 21f Wincanton handicap for Johnny Farrelly 31 days ago. Claims if able to build on that having rejoined former trainer Laura Young.

Form: 95/85P-2

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Light Flicker^p1³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Ned Fox⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 97| C| D

3/1

Chase winner over 19f here in December. Suited by the step up to 3m when landing another win over fences at Uttoxeter last month. Cheekpieces added now. Needs considering back hurdling.

Form: 021921

The Very Thing^h¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 95

33/1

Runner-up in this race 12 months ago. Pulled up at Hexham when last seen in December but freshened up since and he's now 2 lb lower than last year. No shock if he goes well.

Form: 3PP2-4P

Bitasweetsymphony^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood| OR: 95| BF

10/1

Showed promise on first 3 outings this term and better than latest remote sixth at Carlisle (25f) in first-time cheekpieces might suggest, ridden far too aggressively. Of interest from his mark.

Form: 58-4456

Veshenskaya^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 94

12/1

First sign of real ability when well-held third in 21f maiden hurdle here 15 ago. Goes up in trip again for this handicap debut.

Form: 8-65563

Malinas Island^t1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 88

18/1

Beaten a long way in 3 novice hurdles at up to 21f this winter but more realistic chance now handicapping up in trip with a tongue tie also added. Check betting.

Form: 070

Coeur Aimant^t1¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 88WS

40/1

Not without promise in maiden hurdles for Gordon Elliott but let go cheaply and no show in 3 handicaps for current yard. Subsequent wind op (also tongue tied now) needs to have made a difference.

Form: 47500P

Fame And Hope¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 86

12/1

Runner-up over 25f at Catterick in January but her subsequent runs have been disappointing. Brian Hughes up but others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 6652P8

Iwasthefutureonce^b,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

11/1

Point winner/fair maiden in this sphere who didn't convince over fences during second half of 2020. Not disgraced back hurdling at Carlisle recently and possible he'll be sharper with that behind him.

Form: 3/U7455

Stitch Up²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 84

16/1

Hasn't offered a great deal in a bumper/4 hurdles, including a handicap last time. Plenty of improvement needed.

Form: 67448

Banana Joe^p1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 84| BF

7/1

Generally disappointing for Ben Pauling. Showed more spark when third in 19f Taunton handicap on yard debut/return but bit laboured when fourth at Hereford since. First-time cheekpieces may help.

Form: 0PP-234

Joe Warbrick²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 79

25/1

Has looked limited so far but allotted a basement mark as a result and no surprise to see him fare better now handicapping over a longer trip. Keep an eye on in betting.

Form: 0008

Jones Well^p,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 79

12/1

Yet to better poor form, hinting at temperament along the way. Is in good hands, though, and bit too soon to write him off, with last month's chase debut easily overlooked (badly hampered first).

Form: 70/09-5P

Realms Of Fire²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: L Allan| OR: 78

9/1

Poor maiden hurdler for Dan Skelton. Pulled up on Fakenham reappearance in October (only start for Caroline Fryer) but better signs when third of 14 at Warwick last month. Claims if building on that.

Form: 85FF-P3

Non-Runners

Soloist²⁰

Weight: 10-10| Age: 5

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Light Flicker (3/1), Megaudais Speed (6/1), Banana Joe (7/1), Realms Of Fire (9/1), Bitasweetsymphony (10/1), Iwasthefutureonce (11/1), Veshenskaya (12/1), Jones Well (12/1), Fame And Hope (12/1), Stitch Up (16/1), Malinas Island (18/1), Joe Warbrick (25/1), The Very Thing (33/1), Coeur Aimant (40/1), Soloist (50/1)

LIGHT FLICKER has scored twice over fences since his runner-up effort over hurdles at Exeter in November so might be worth siding with off a mark only 2 lb higher than the one he defied at Uttoxeter last month. Bitasweetsymphony was a lot better than the result at Carlisle last time and remains of interest. Megaudais Speed and last year's runner-up The Very Thing are also on the shortlist.