13:28 Wincanton

Sunday 26 December 2021

All12:1812:5313:2814:0314:3815:1315:45

NAF Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:28 | Winning time: 3m 47.56s

John Betjeman^b¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 109

12/1

Back to form when runner-up at Leicester 12 days ago, albeit in a weak race he was able to dictate. Has been eased another 1 lb so is back down to the mark he defied at Ffos Las in May.

Form: 4-13952

Flamenco De Kerser^h¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 108

10/1

Winning Irish pointer who was a promising third behind Borak on his handicap debut at Newton Abbot in September. Impressed with how well he travelled there and could still have more to offer.

Form: 142-343

Miltiades²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: H D Daly| OR: 107

11/2

Progressive type who shaped nicely when fourth at Leicester 24 days ago. Likely to be suited by further and opening mark is tough, but no surprise if he steps forward again and makes presence felt.

Form: F35-34

Urabamba^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁷⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 107

40/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Wexford on final outing for Henry de Bromhead in August but made an inauspicious start for this yard in a Cheltenham handicap in November and then ran even worse over this C&D,

Form: 382107

Galore Desassences^p⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 106

11/2

Bumper winner who opened his account over hurdles in taking fashion in first-time cheekpieces at Taunton last month, scoring with a bit in hand. Opening mark looks tough but he's going the right way.

Form: 371-P31

Novus Aditus⁷²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 105

66/1

Best effort over hurdles when fifth of 12 at Taunton when last seen in action, but that was nearly two years ago and the handicapper has set him a tough task. Plenty to prove on handicap debut.

Form: 095/

Princess T^p,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 105| CD

9/1

Disappointed at Warwick in September but has been in decent heart on the Flat since and is 4 lb below her last winning mark, which came over C&D. Has a good claimer aboard and not ruled out.

Form: 105-536

Minnie Escape^b⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss Heidi Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 101

22/1

Shaped as if retaining ability when seventh of 17 on return at Chepstow last month and this mark is not beyond her if on a going day. However, she's temperamental and others are more reliable.

Form: 5/142-07

George Bancroft²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 112| BF

3/1

Dual Flat winner who won on hurdles debut at Fontwell and was second behind an exciting prospect at Ffos Las. Unseated on handicap debut at Market Rasen but worth another chance to show mark is fair.

Form: 12U

Maroochi¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 93

40/1

Modest in bumpers and similar form over hurdles. No impression when seventh of 11 at Fontwell last time and easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 7-3U357

Blistering Bob^h⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 92

16/1

Was running best race over hurdles when unseating at the last at Newton Abbot on return in October. Also shaped better than the result on chase debut, but others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 0/755-U3

Tout Paris^v1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 92

80/1

Showed little over fences for Sean Thomas Doyle and offered nothing on hurdles debut for this yard at Chepstow 22 days ago. Visor tried on handicap debut.

Form: 57S-P30

Checkitsme²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 90

66/1

Fontwell third was a step in the right direction but she was easy to back and disappointing on subsequent handicap debut at Sedgefield, not looking the most enthusiastic.

Form: 736538

Poet's Reflection³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 85

9/2

Ran up to her best when third over 19f at Taunton last month. Should give another good account but likely to find at least a few too strong.

Form: 414-2F3

Non-Runners

Borak³⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: D Faulkner J: Non Runner

Man Of Light³⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Non Runner

Rhebus Road⁴²

Weight: 10-10| Age: 3

T: O Sherwood J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

George Bancroft (3/1), Rhebus Road (4/1), Poet's Reflection (9/2), Galore Desassences (11/2), Miltiades (11/2), Man Of Light (15/2), Princess T (9/1), Flamenco De Kerser (10/1), John Betjeman (12/1), Blistering Bob (16/1), Minnie Escape (22/1), Borak (25/1), Urabamba (40/1), Maroochi (40/1), Checkitsme (66/1), Novus Aditus (66/1), Tout Paris (80/1)

The three-year-olds GEORGE BANCROFT and Rhebus Road are on handy marks and look the pair to concentrate on, with the vote going to the former. He had little chance trying to give weight to subsequent winner Forever Blessed, but he emerged with credit and can make amends for an early exit at Market Rasen. Flamenco de Kerser should be suited by this test of speed and is another to consider.