14:35 Market Rasen

Friday 7 May 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3515:0515:3516:10

Unibet Victor Lucas Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 5m 56.68s

Ballyhome¹⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 137| CD

11/2

Good track record, winning twice over fences in the first half of last season. Also runner-up in a course handicap hurdle last autumn. Gone well fresh before. Much respected.

Form: 4/12P21-

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Glinger Flame^p¹⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 135

16/1

Can look a little ungainly on occasions but his strike-rate can't be knocked, winning again over 2½m Hexham last autumn. Off since a lesser run at Aintree in December. Capable of bouncing back.

Form: 1415/19-

The Golden Rebel⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 132

7/2

Won his last 2 starts in points and belied a big price when scoring by a wide-margin on Doncaster hurdle debut (21f) in January. Only fifth over 3m at Musselburgh since but unexposed now handicapping.

Form: 2711/15-

Teescomponents Lad^b¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas| OR: 130| CD

8/1

Back to winning ways over C&D last November. Acquitted himself well in defeat next 2 starts but he does need to shrug off lesser efforts the last twice. Blinkers refitted.

Form: 313254-

Regarding Ruth^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: L Wadham| OR: 127| D

11/2

Building up a good record away from the mud and found some improvement to resume winning ways over 3m at Newbury in March. Not seen to best effect over 2½m latest and this more suitable.

Form: 13P714-

Gunfleet⁵⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 126

17/2

Useful hurdler at his best but not seen since November 2019 so peak fitness has to be taken on trust. Betting perhaps the best pointer to what's expected.

Form: 23P047/

Ashfield Paddy⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123| D

10/3

Didn't take to chasing last autumn but career back on track returned to hurdles this year, bumping into a well-handicapped sort when second at Carlisle latest.

Form: 1/56332-

Barbados Blue³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123

9/1

Back to best when runner-up at Doncaster (2m, good) in March. Went up 5 lb for that and ran creditably in form terms when last of 4 at Ludlow (21f) since. Up in trip.

Form: 21/0424-

Forecasts

Ashfield Paddy (10/3), The Golden Rebel (7/2), Regarding Ruth (11/2), Ballyhome (11/2), Teescomponents Lad (8/1), Gunfleet (17/2), Barbados Blue (9/1), Glinger Flame (16/1)

ASHFIELD PADDY bumped into an improver at Carlisle last time and may prove the answer here. The returning Ballyhome has an excellent track record so he looks the main danger ahead of Regarding Ruth.