15:50 Leicester

Wednesday 2 February 2022

All13:1513:5014:2014:5015:2015:50

Next Meeting At leicesterraces Thursday 17th February Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 5m 25.90s

Punxsutawney Phil⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 112

16/5

AW bumper winner who also landed Sedgefield maiden hurdle in October. Good fourth on 21f Cheltenham handicap debut in November and perhaps unsuited by drop back in trip when below par there since.

Form: 4-32145

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Iron Horse^p⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 110| D

11/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler who made a good return from a year off when second of 10 over C&D in December. Claims if showing up here in similar form.

Form: 1255/7-2

Ailes D'amour³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 110

18/1

Has shown plenty in bumpers/novice hurdles and is unexposed now moving into handicap company. Opening mark does demand improvement, though.

Form: 42-457

Electron Bleu³⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 109

13/8

Underperformed for Tim Vaughan last season but he's well handicapped if a switch of yards sparks him back to life. Market confidence would look significant.

Form: 2/68348-

Concrete King^h⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 107

6/1

Multiple Irish point winner who has also shown ability under Rules, particularly when second in a 19.5f Lingfield maiden in December, settling better in a first -time hood. Handicap debut.

Form: 131/452

Emphatic Qualm^h²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 105

14/1

Improved when second off 3 lb higher on 21.5f Newton Abbot handicap debut last term but hasn't got close to that level in 3 subsequent outings.

Form: 4/267-77

Turning Gold^p,t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: R Bevis| OR: 103| C

40/1

Fairly useful handicap hurdler at his best for Nigel Twiston-Davies but has offered little in handful of starts for present stable.

Form: P/30-P08

Eppleton Collier²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 100

50/1

Improved when fourth of 12 in 2m maiden hurdle here in December but didn't come close to backing that up over 21f at Ludlow since. Handicap debut.

Form: 76-0U4P

Gerolamo Cardano²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 97

9/1

Made winning hurdles bow at Hereford 2 years ago. Has largely disappointed since but there were more encouraging signs when returning from 6 months off to finish third at Bangor 20 days ago.

Form: 66-P373

Doyens De Ante¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: M Young| OR: 91

80/1

Signs of ability/over hurdles but he was out the back when falling on his Ludlow reappearance in October. Makes handicap debut over a longer trip after a further 104 days off.

Form: 4450-F

Pittsburg²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 85| BF

18/1

Had wind op and tongue strap on when winning 17-runner handicap hurdle at Catterick (19f) in December. Not in the same form when fifth of 14 over 2m at Wincanton since. No tongue strap this time.

Form: PP0P15

Forecasts

Electron Bleu (13/8), Punxsutawney Phil (16/5), Concrete King (6/1), Gerolamo Cardano (9/1), Iron Horse (11/1), Emphatic Qualm (14/1), Ailes D'amour (18/1), Pittsburg (18/1), Turning Gold (40/1), Eppleton Collier (50/1), Doyens De Ante (80/1)

A chance is taken on a switch to Fergal O'Brien reviving the fortunes of ELECTRON BLEU as he's well treated on his peak form for his previous yard. Concrete King is one who could have more to offer now moving into handicap company so he's feared most ahead of December's C&D second Iron Horse.