14:07 Leicester

Thursday 2 December 2021

All13:0713:3714:0714:3715:0715:37

Nucleus HR Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:08 | Winning time: 5m 13.40s

Vinnie Dev⁶⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brace| T: Noel Williams| OR: 120| D

20/1

Scored on hurdles bow at Uttoxeter (20f) in November 2019 and posted good seventh in 21f Kempton when last seen. That was almost 2 years ago, though.

Form: 411367/

Sambezi³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: O Signy| OR: 120

12/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who didn't need to improve on a promising hurdling debut to score in a maiden at Fontwell in March. Fell on recent chasing debut but remains with potential in this sphere.

Form: 12521-F

Apple Rock²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 119| D

4/1

Added third handicap success to tally at Carlisle (19f) in February and, while he hasn't yet progressed further, he's likely to strip fitter for his return at Cheltenham, and he's down in grade now.

Form: 61165-8

Nordano^v1²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J E Moore| T: N B King| OR: 119

7/1

Formerly useful hurdler who lost his way last season but showed he retains some ability when fourth at Lingfield on reappearance. Down the weights with a visor fitted, so not a forlorn hope.

Form: 0PP85-4

Go Steady^t¹⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 115| BF| C| DWS

17/2

Maiden hurdler who has shown fairly useful form over fences and should be tuned up for this return by his top stable, so he's sure to be of interest off a lower mark in this sphere.

Form: 7133-13

Flann²⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 114

20/1

Fair bumper winner who was runner-up in a novice at Hereford on hurdling bow. Next couple of outings were disappointing and handicapper has taken no chances with opening mark. Up against it on return.

Form: 71280-

Game Socks²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 114| D

7/2

Fair hurdler who still isn't fully exposed and found only an improver too good at Ludlow on reappearance. Should be on the premises once again.

Form: 21055-2

Florrie Knox³³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 112| D

9/1

Fair hurdler whose final outing for Alex Hales was a rather dismal one at Warwick 11 months ago, so returns with a bit to prove.

Form: 36P/23P-

Largy G²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: Noel Williams| OR: 112

25/1

Ex-pointer who offered encouragement on both hurdling outings at Newton Abbot in the spring. May well up her game on handicap/seasonal debut if there's enough emphasis on stamina.

Form: 5/32-3

Furkash²⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 110

16/1

Confirmed hurdles debut promise when scoring at Fontwell a year ago but he was disappointing subsequently. Bit to prove, but returns from 9 months off with stable going better.

Form: 3/318PP-

Trans Express^p¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 106| CD

25/1

6-time winner at Exeter but ended last term with a bit of a whimper and his reappearance didn't contain much promise.

Form: 21666-5

Beau Haze¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 96| D

5/1

Completed a double at Ffos Las in May and has hit the frame on both outings this term, so likely to give another good account for all others look more favourably treated.

Form: 3-21134

Forecasts

Game Socks (7/2), Apple Rock (4/1), Beau Haze (5/1), Nordano (7/1), Go Steady (17/2), Florrie Knox (9/1), Sambezi (12/1), Furkash (16/1), Vinnie Dev (20/1), Flann (20/1), Largy G (25/1), Trans Express (25/1)

GO STEADY looks potentially thrown in based on chasing form and he's likely to be tuned up on reappearance, so he gets the marginal vote in a wide-open handicap. Game Socks should put up another solid showing, while Sambezi remains with a better showing in him in this discipline, so he's another one to consider.