14:50 Ffos Las

Tuesday 1 February 2022

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Trevor Gregory - Sion Hine Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:54 | Winning time: 4m 2.1s

Balleticon^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 117| DWS

10/1

Overcame a 2-year layoff to make a winning hurdling debut at Southwell (15.8f) in December 2020. Disappointing since, though, and hopes pinned on recent wind op helping to aid a revival here.

Form: 25/143-3

Canford Light²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115| D

25/1

Bagged 21f Ludlow novice on debut for Evan Williams in October. Yet to be asked for his effort when falling in handicaps at Aintree/Taunton subsequently, but this demands improvement.

Form: 211FF

Purple King⁴⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 114| BF| D

28/1

Third success in 2m handicap hurdles when scoring at Southwell last summer. Subsequent efforts not so good (over fences the last twice), but will be a threat if able to bounce back off a reduced mark.

Form: 4/214U4-

Fontana Ellissi^h¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 111

7/2

Dual novice hurdles scorer (at 21f) for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Respectable efforts in handicaps at Doncaster and Newbury the last twice, and he's not without hope off this career-low mark.

Form: 212055

Ben Lilly¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 110| D

4/1

Useful seven-time Flat winner at up to 2m for David Brown. Stepped up on low-key hurdles debut when fourth in a 12-runner Newbury novice recently and likely to do better now handicapping.

Form: 44

Natty Night²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 110| D

3/1

Fairly useful on Flat for William Muir. Built on hurdles debut promise when accounting for 13 rivals in a 16.5f Taunton maiden last month and further progress likely now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 41

Feel The Pinch¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 107| D

8/1

Understandably needed the run back from a lengthy absence at Cheltenham in December, and subsequent efforts at Wetherby and Taunton have been respectable. Still, others boast more pressing claims.

Form: 102/845

Jaunty Viking^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: B Eckley| OR: 106| C

6/1

Off the mark in 2¾m novices' handicap last year and hasn't done much wrong in decent contests at Ludlow and Chepstow since returning to action in December. Claims if coping with this drop in trip.

Form: 66-3133

Romeo's Bond^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 110

16/1

Modest maiden on Flat but quickly a better hurdler, winning at Exeter in November. Valid excuse when pulled up at Sandown last time and worth a second look on handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 12P

Forecasts

Natty Night (3/1), Fontana Ellissi (7/2), Ben Lilly (4/1), Jaunty Viking (6/1), Feel The Pinch (8/1), Balleticon (10/1), Romeo's Bond (16/1), Canford Light (25/1), Purple King (28/1)

There should be better to come from NATTY NIGHT and Ben Lilly, both of whom were pretty useful on the level and make their handicaps debuts in this sphere off potentially handy marks. Marginal preference is for Natty Night, who appeared to have a bit left up his sleeve when landing a Taunton maiden last month. Fontana Ellissi and Jaunty Viking are others with claims in a competitive handicap.