15:25 Market Rasen

Sunday 26 December 2021

All11:5512:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Pallinc New Opportunities Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 31.27s

Fox's Socks¹⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 96

4/1

Left previous form well behind when making a mockery of his opening mark at Uttoxeter on final start for Tom Lacey in July. Since changed hands for £20,000 but is now 16 lb higher in the weights.

Form: 42/0061

Fever Roque²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gregory| T: R Menzies| OR: 96

2/1

Shown improved form since handicapping, producing a career-best effort when third at Kelso 3 weeks ago, pulling clear of the remainder. Will be competitive again from same mark. Respected.

Form: 33-3453

Bendy Bow⁴³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss L Bradstock⁽⁷⁾| T: M Bradstock| OR: 90

18/1

Not much about him and proved a weak finisher when last seen at Fontwell 14 months ago. Has again dropped in the weights, but hard to fancy on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 2PP/407-

Finoah^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: Martin Smith| OR: 90

22/1

Fairly useful on Flat and showed first form in this sphere at Southwell last month. Should stay this longer trip and opening mark looks fair enough based on the pick of his Flat form.

Form: 0-66

New Delhi Express^t1,v⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 88

14/1

Merely hinted at ability in maiden hurdles and failed to improve in first-time cheekpieces on handicap debut at Hexham in August. Has run respectably on Flat since, but others look stronger.

Form: 7-U464P

Bravantina^t²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 85WS

12/1

Modest winner on Flat who ran creditably in handicaps for Mark Walford last season. Has since moved to a yard that do well with new recruits (has had a wind op) and the market may reveal more.

Form: 555545-

Zara's Universe^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 84

7/1

Poor maiden hurdler who ran as well as could be expected from 6 lb out of the handicap at Southwell 2 weeks ago. Given a lot to do that day and not discounted now back on her proper mark.

Form: 846324

Keeper Chris^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Lee Edwards| T: D Thompson| OR: 78

7/1

In the process of running well back over hurdles when suffering a heavy fall 2 out at Doncaster last month. Better off at the weights with Son of The Somme now and that form makes him interesting.

Form: 32807F

Burdigala^p1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 75

9/1

Fair form in France, but has struggled for this yard, and offered little on return from 7 months off at Newcastle earlier this month.

Form: 003-0P8

Givehimhisdew¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: K Davis| OR: 69

33/1

Well beaten when finishing on recent starts and makes little appeal back in a handicap. 1 lb out of the weights.

Form: P5P9P5

Non-Runners

I Will Follow Her³⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Mrs M Rowley J: Alex Edwards

Son Of The Somme³⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: B Ellison J: Oakley Brown

Eairsidh³¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 6

T: A Stronge J: D C Costello

Forecasts

Fever Roque (2/1), Son Of The Somme (10/3), Fox's Socks (4/1), Zara's Universe (7/1), Keeper Chris (7/1), Burdigala (9/1), Bravantina (12/1), New Delhi Express (14/1), I Will Follow Her (16/1), Bendy Bow (18/1), Finoah (22/1), Givehimhisdew (33/1), Eairsidh (33/1)

SON OF THE SOMME showed improved form on handicap debut at Doncaster last time and, likely to be sharper for that run, he looks a big player here with a good-value claimer offsetting the majority of his 6 lb rise in the weights. Keeper Chris was still in second place when falling 2 out in the same race, and will be dangerous if none the worse for that, while Fever Roque will remain competitive.