13:25 Warwick

Thursday 9 December 2021

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3015:0015:30

Alpha Boilers Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 27.50s

Italian Spirit²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 115| BF

16/5

Bumper winner last season and opened hurdles account in 2½m Fakenham maiden on return in October. Creditable third on handicap bow here (19f) last time and he remains open to improvement.

Form: 214-13

Inca Rose^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 115

5/1

Went close in an Exeter novice last November and again back from a break over 25f here in May. Not disgraced on return/handicap bow tried in cheekpieces (omitted now) at Kempton, but more is needed.

Form: 2/52-24

I'm A Starman²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: James Davies| T: M G Rimell| OR: 114| C

18/1

Opened account at Hereford in March (21.7f) and doubled his tally over 25f here when last seen in May. Resumes on a 5 lb higher mark and this demands a new personal best.

Form: P/515-21

Straight Swap³⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: C Gordon| OR: 112WS

22/1

Best effort over hurdles when second in 19.5f Lingfield novice last November. However, well held on handicap bow at Sandown the following month and absent since (has undergone a wind op in meantime).

Form: 3P/8828-

Jaboticaba³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 111| C

33/1

Fairly useful chaser who scored here (2m) last September. However, more miss than hit since and sole hurdles success was gained in France 4 years ago.

Form: PP34-P6

Rabski²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Kevin Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111

11/1

Bumper winner who has yet to strike over hurdles, but has resumed with a couple of solid placed efforts off this mark at Newton Abbot and Leicester. Trip/ground fine and should be on the premises.

Form: 8727-23

Glimpse Of Gala⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 111

14/1

Fair bumper performer who made all in a mares' novice at Fontwell on first completed outing over hurdles in September. Good second at Market Rasen (20.6f) since and merits respect on handicap debut.

Form: 737-F12

Lygon Rock^t,v1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 110| D

50/1

Still has only a 4-runner novice hurdle win to his name following 22 starts overall, and he ran no sort of a race back from a break for new yard at Ludlow last month. Visor applied.

Form: 4/254-PP

Steady Away²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 108| BF

12/1

Fair maiden hurdler who has posted creditable efforts in defeat at Newton Abbot and Market Rasen the last twice. Ought to pick up a race before long, but others look stronger on this occasion.

Form: 525-533

Jet Plane^t1⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 107

6/1

Hurdles debut was low-key, but underwent a wind op during the summer and acquitted himself well in 2m maiden and 2½m novice (both at Uttoxeter) in October. Tongue strap added for this handicap bow.

Form: P/286-25

Grand Lord^p1⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 106

13/2

Placed on each of his last 4 starts over hurdles, but latest effort at Wetherby (21.2f) hardly represented a step forward and he's starting to look a shade exposed. Cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 4023-23

Lamanver Bel Ami^h²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 105| D

16/1

Back on-song when making a winning reappearance at Worcester (2½m) last month. 5 lb rise fair enough and will have a fighting chance if able to back that effort up here.

Form: 1P7P9-1

Jaytee²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100

15/2

Showed ability in maiden/novice company during 2019/20 campaign, and encouraging effort back from 22 months off on handicap bow at Chepstow (19.4f). 3 lb lower now and he's open to improvement.

Form: 75036/5

Shaw's Cross³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: P Henderson| OR: 89

40/1

Losing run mounting up (latest success was gained in December 2019) and while he performed with credit at Lingfield (2m) last time, others make more appeal from a win point of view.

Form: 0-6F863

Non-Runners

Ernesto⁴¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Forecasts

Italian Spirit (16/5), Inca Rose (5/1), Jet Plane (6/1), Grand Lord (13/2), Jaytee (15/2), Rabski (11/1), Steady Away (12/1), Glimpse Of Gala (14/1), Lamanver Bel Ami (16/1), Ernesto (16/1), I'm A Starman (18/1), Straight Swap (22/1), Jaboticaba (33/1), Shaw's Cross (40/1), Lygon Rock (50/1)

Moving back up in trip will help ITALIAN SPIRIT, who put in a good shift when third on his handicap debut over 19f here last time. That form is solid and the 5-y-o should have more to offer on what will be just his fourth start over hurdles. Jaytee shaped encouragingly back from a lengthy absence at Chepstow and he is second choice ahead of Glimpse of Gala, Lamanver Bel Ami and Rabski.