15:20 Wetherby

Sunday 26 December 2021

All11:5212:2713:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

William Hill Betting TV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 29.91s

Lord Condi¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Billy Garritty| T: D Brooke| OR: 112| D

66/1

Dual 3m Perth scorer for Iain Jardine in 2021. Off 4 months and never-dangerous seventh over inadequate 2m at Doncaster on yard bow 16 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 218417

Ballybreeze^h,t1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 111

5/6

Low-mileage hurdler who posted good fourth of 8 in novice at Aintree (17f) 22 days ago. Hood back on and tongue tied for his handicap debut. Player off good mark.

Form: F/6-574

Feel The Pinch¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 111| D

16/1

100/1, offered little on his first start in nearly 2 years when eighth in 2m handicap at Cheltenham 16 days ago. Big step forward is required.

Form: 98102/8

Lucky Lover Boy^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 110| D

18/1

Looked rusty after 16 months off when seventh of 8 in 2m handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter 19 days ago. Fairly useful 2m winner at his best who should strip fitter now.

Form: 4P8/97-7

Applaus^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 110| C| D

8/1

Unreliable type who turned in one of his better efforts when second of 10 in 20f handicap hurdle (40/1) at Southwell 14 days ago. Others remain more persuasive, though.

Form: 2484-52

Near Kettering^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 109

28/1

Bagged his second win at Carlisle in October but below that form since, modest seventh on Flat at Southwell 19 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 9-4115F

Zamond^b⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109

12/1

Fair ex-Irish 17f winner who wasn't disgraced for his new yard when fourth of 13 in 2m novice hurdle at Bangor 61 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 307514

Kihavah^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A Keatley| OR: 109

4/1

Tongue strap on and best of his three runs over hurdles when third of 10 in 2m novice at Sedgefield 23 days ago. Much respected now going into handicaps.

Form: 683

Demi Sang³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Sara Ender| OR: 104| BF| D

10/1

Winless since 2019, and below-form seventh in 19f handicap at Doncaster on his final run for Ben Haslam 30 days ago. Needs more for his new handler.

Form: 443927

Thomas Cranmer¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 102| C

33/1

Fair 10f winner on Flat who has shown similar form on both his runs over hurdles, fourth in 2m novice at Newcastle (66/1) 17 days ago. Others look better treated now he goes handicapping however.

Form: 44

Non-Runners

Wor Verge²¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: S Corbett J: Nathan Moscrop

Forecasts

Ballybreeze (5/6), Wor Verge (3/1), Kihavah (4/1), Applaus (8/1), Demi Sang (10/1), Zamond (12/1), Feel The Pinch (16/1), Lucky Lover Boy (18/1), Near Kettering (28/1), Thomas Cranmer (33/1), Lord Condi (66/1)

BALLYBREEZE looks to have got in on an attractive mark for his handicap bow so Sam Drinkwater's low-mileage 5-y-o gets the nod in an open contest. Hat-trick seeking Wor Verge rates the obvious threat, despite having a career-high mark to overcome, with the lightly-raced Kihavah appealing as the pick of the remainder for place purposes.