18:40 Stratford

Saturday 22 May 2021

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Peter Allen Thanks For The Great Memories Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 4m 33.5s

Some Day Soon^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 139| C

15/2

Course winner who ran well back up in trip after 9 months off when third of 8 in handicap hurdle (20/1) at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Should go well again.

Form: 134/29-3

Reserve Tank²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

4/1

Grade 1 winning hurdler who ran to similar level over fences in 2019/20. Lightly raced since and though he proved he retains some ability at Uttoxeter 21 days ago, he remains a tricky one to assess.

Form: 2P/5PP-5

Litterale Ci¹⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 136| C

28/1

Useful handicap hurdler and similar form over fences, but out of sorts both starts last season, so returns with something to prove.

Form: 1351/4P-

Clever As A Fox¹⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 134

18/1

Progressed well upon his return last summer, winning 20f handicaps at Uttoxeter and Perth. Not so good at Aintree next time but wasted no time getting back to form at Ascot final start.

Form: 65/1106-

Caius Marcius^p¹⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 133

25/1

Prolific over fences in 2019 and posted a useful effort over hurdles when runner-up at Southwell in July. Has to cast aside a trio of pretty tame efforts since, though.

Form: 322747-

Twin Star^p,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: Noel Williams| OR: 128

10/1

Successful at Bangor in September and ran up to best after 4 months off when second of 5 in handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good) 39 days ago. Should remain competitive from same mark.

Form: 11PD22-

Hooper³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Ben Ffrench Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| C

6/5

Took another step forward when landing a 17f Cheltenham handicap 38 days ago, outbattling runner-up. Up 6 lb but could easily have more to come back up in trip.

Form: 222111-

Ballyellis^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| CD

11/2

Thrived in plating hurdling company in autumn 2019, racking up 4 wins. Well prepared to land another claimer in March and ran a fine race up in grade when fourth at Haydock 14 days ago. Player.

Form: 1223/1-4

Non-Runners

Teqany¹⁹⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Hooper (6/5), Reserve Tank (4/1), Teqany (4/1), Ballyellis (11/2), Some Day Soon (15/2), Twin Star (10/1), Clever As A Fox (18/1), Caius Marcius (25/1), Litterale Ci (28/1)

With potentially more to come back up in trip, HOOPER is taken to defy a 6 lb rise for Cheltenham and extend his winning sequence. Some Day Soon and Ballyellis head the dangers.