17:05 Wincanton

Saturday 19 February 2022

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

Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 5m 42.08s

Zyon^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Page Fuller| T: A West| OR: 114| CD

17/2

Game scorer in 21f handicap hurdle at Kempton 8 days ago. C&D winner too, so he can give another good account despite 4 lb rise.

Form: 5-55341

Gaulois⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 109

11/2

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler. Pulled up in handicap at Ascot (23.5f) 63 days ago, so others are more persuasive.

Form: 32-3P

Sneaky Feeling⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 107WS

80/1

Off 33 months before pulled up in handicap hurdle (200/1) at Leicester (20.5f) 66 days ago on stable debut. Since had wind op and back with plenty to prove.

Form: 07096/P

Coal Stock¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: H Brown| OR: 107

28/1

33/1, posted best effort for a while when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Exeter (18.5f) 17 days ago. One for the shortlist off 4 lb lower mark.

Form: 115-P64

Fitzroy^p⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 107| DWS

66/1

Arrives out of sorts, pulled up in handicap hurdle (150/1) at Hereford (25.5f) 46 days ago. Lots more required now after subsequent wind surgery.

Form: 24U30P

Lamanver Bel Ami^h⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 105| D

16/1

Resumed with 20f win at Worcester and not ideally placed when sixth in handicap at Warwick (21f) 72 days ago. Shouldn't be underestimated after his break.

Form: P7P9-16

Itsnotwhatyouthink³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: N J Gifford| OR: 104

28/1

Maiden hurdler who was tried in cheekpieces when only seventh of 8 in handicap at Plumpton (25f) 31 days ago. Plenty more is required.

Form: 2330-F7

Famoso¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: H Brown| OR: 104

33/1

50/1, first run since leaving Paul Nicholls when respectable third of 9 in 2m handicap hurdle at Hereford 19 days ago. Significantly back up in trip now and no forlorn hope.

Form: 032-753

Braganza Bay⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 103WS

9/2

Has been brought along steadily over hurdles, not knocked about when fifth of 11 in 2m novice at Chepstow 44 days ago. Since had breathing op and up in trip now going handicapping. Big player.

Form: 28-0545

Flowing Cadenza³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 100

22/1

It's now eleven runs since his last win in 2019, and pulled up in handicap chase at Fakenham (21.2f) 33 days ago. Switches to hurdles with lots of work to do.

Form: 5P-P2PP

Lucky Lara²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: H Brown| OR: 100

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler for Nick Mitchell. Off 10 months but hinted at promise on chasing bow for new trainer when fourth in 22f Taunton handicap last month. She should strip fitter now.

Form: 3/4558-4

Megaudais Speed¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 98

25/1

Made all in 19.5f Chepstow handicap last April but below par all three runs this term, however. Needs to step forward despite tumbling in the weights.

Form: 261-035

William Philo⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 96

10/3

33/1, much improved when getting off the mark on his handicap bow at Fontwell (21.8f) in December, relishing the stiffer test of stamina. Up 6 lb but has more to offer and merits consideration.

Form: 7-591

Walk Away Now³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J E Moore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 93

11/1

11/1, best of his three runs over hurdles when fourth of 11 in 2m novice at Exeter 39 days ago. Back up in trip for his handicap debut so enters calculations.

Form: P84

Carnage^p1²⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 90

100/1

Well out of sorts when last seen on the track 9 months ago. Cheekpieces on for his comebac with lots to find on form.

Form: 631/08-8

Portentoso^b,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: S Holdsworth| OR: 88

40/1

Ex-French chase winner who showed more than previously for his current yard when seventh of 17 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f) 11 days ago. Needs to build on it now.

Form: 3P7P07

Getaway Cory^p1⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁷⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 85| BF

11/2

Remains winless, and below-form sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Exeter (21.6f) 65 days ago. Cheekpieces are reached for.

Form: P044F6

True Thoughts^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 75| C

22/1

Course winner who comes here in good nick, third of 10 at Chepstow (19.4f) 33 days ago. 9 lb out of the handicap here, however.

Form: P9/5-353

Forecasts

William Philo (10/3), Braganza Bay (9/2), Getaway Cory (11/2), Gaulois (11/2), Zyon (17/2), Walk Away Now (11/1), Lucky Lara (14/1), Lamanver Bel Ami (16/1), Flowing Cadenza (22/1), True Thoughts (22/1), Megaudais Speed (25/1), Itsnotwhatyouthink (28/1), Coal Stock (28/1), Famoso (33/1), Portentoso (40/1), Fitzroy (66/1), Sneaky Feeling (80/1), Carnage (100/1)

Not so competitive as the numbers suggest, and BRAGANZA BAY is fancied to take a big step forward now he goes into handicap company over a trip much more in keeping with his pedigree. William Philo rates a big threat on the back of his Fontwell success with handicap debutant Walk Away Now and C&D scorer Zyon both figuring high on the shortlist too.