15:58 Wincanton

Saturday 19 February 2022

All13:3814:1314:4815:2015:5816:3317:05

Matchbook Better Way To Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:04 | Winning time: 5m 40.12s

Monte Cristo³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| D

11/1

Looked potentially smart when winning at Kempton last season but has failed to fire on either start this year and is easy enough to pass over given his lack of recent form.

Form: 8109-P0

Trincomalee¹²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: L Wadham| OR: 135| D

12/1

Career-best performance when winning at Uttoxeter (23.3f) in October, rallying to lead again close home after making late errors. Probably will need to improve again to defy a 4 lb higher mark.

Form: 7313-21

Stellar Magic²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

7/1

Impressed when landing pair of Taunton novice hurdles last winter and ran well when second in handicap at Haydock on return. Pulled up latest but remains with scope to improve on current mark.

Form: 1/11P-2P

Solwara One^h⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 134| D

12/1

Bumper/dual hurdles winner last season and coped well pitched into an Aintree Grade 3 handicap on latest hurdles start. Fell both starts chasing this year, but remains interesting back in this sphere.

Form: 1216-FF

Master Debonair^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 132

11/2

Grade 2 novice hurdle winner at Ascot in 2019 and ran his best race for a while when second in seniors event at Taunton (19f) last month. Capable of going well again from only 1 lb higher.

Form: 600-352

Jepeck³⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-6| J: Cameron Iles⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 129| CD

11/1

Still a useful hurdler despite his veteran status, having won over C&D last month. Remained in good heart when third here last time, but may be vulnerable for win purposes against less exposed rivals.

Form: R3-P713

Sizable Sam^p⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 128| CD

11/4

Won novice/handicap here last season and, after a disappointing spell chasing, ran well returned to hurdles when third behind a pair of thriving rivals at Taunton latest. Claims if in same form.

Form: 15P-5P3

Mr Glass^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127

5/2

Dual bumper winner last season and has landed a 19.5f Chepstow maiden and 2¾m Newcastle novice since switching to hurdles. Back up in trip following Tolworth third from a fair opening mark.

Form: 311-113

Corinto⁴⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 122

100/1

Only reached the track once since March 2019, winning a 7-runner event at Lingfield 15 months ago. Has left Olly Murphy and is probably best watched from a mark 6 lb higher than on his last start.

Form: 53413/1-

Non-Runners

Ask The Doc⁴⁹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Mr Glass (5/2), Sizable Sam (11/4), Master Debonair (11/2), Stellar Magic (7/1), Ask The Doc (10/1), Jepeck (11/1), Monte Cristo (11/1), Trincomalee (12/1), Solwara One (12/1), Corinto (100/1)

Though the Paul Nicholls stable form remains a minor concern, the yard has a good record of winning this race, so MR GLASS gets the marginal vote, an opening mark of 127 more than workable given the promise shown in bumpers and novice hurdles. Stellar Magic should be involved if putting his Ascot flop behind him, whilst Master Debonair shaped encouragingly at Taunton last time.