17:00 Newcastle

Saturday 26 February 2022

All13:3514:1014:4515:1515:5016:2517:00

Vertem Investing For The Future Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 3m 57.97s

Contrebasse^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Brooke| OR: 93| D

50/1

Fair performer on Flat but hasn't reached that level in 5 hurdle starts, falling at Wetherby in January. Also well held back on AW Flat since.

Form: 974-7F

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Hungry Tiger²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: D B Hurst⁽⁸⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 93

7/2

Ex-Irish chase winner who comes here in good order, having reached the frame on his last 4 outings. Contender here, with the drop back in trip a positive if anything.

Form: 6F2224

Tommaso²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 102

9/4

Fair maiden on Flat who came good over hurdles on his Doncaster handicap debut (16.5f, good) 29 days ago. The front 3 came a long way clear on that occasion so a 2 lb rise could prove lenient.

Form: 3821

Trouble Shooter^v²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁶⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88| D

10/1

Back to form out of the blue when second to reopposing Myburg over 19f at Catterick 22 days ago. Whether he backs it up remains to be seen.

Form: 4656F2

Court Jurado¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁶⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 86| D

10/1

Respectable second over fences at Fakenham last time. Remains with just one win to his name but he was only narrowly denied off 4 lb higher over hurdles in the autumn so has handicapping scope.

Form: 224892

Monfass^h⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 86

22/1

Missed whole of last season and his comeback runs at Kelso and Ayr in the autumn were hardly inspiring. Mark in freefall but could only consider if backed.

Form: 2443/00

K C Bailey^p1⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Edward Austin⁽³⁾| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 86

18/1

Poor form to date but is less exposed than a lot of these now moving into handicap company. Cheekpieces go on first time. Worth a betting check.

Form: 78-5P5

Misty Mani^t1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: P D Niven| OR: 81

50/1

Yet to make the frame in 5 runs over hurdles, failing to progress for the switch to handicaps last twice. First-time tongue tie needs to make a difference.

Form: 6-95779

Myburg²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Willmott⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 80

13/2

Much improved when seeing off Trouble Shooter by 5½ lengths in 19f Catterick handicap 22 days ago. Seemed suited by the longer trip on that ocassion so drop back to 2m a slight worry.

Form: 068-001

Ex S'elance^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 77| C

12/1

Back to form when third over C&D in November but he's been beaten a long way on both outings since. Refitted cheekpieces will need to make a difference.

Form: 58-3364

Click And Collect^v²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 75

9/1

Yet to get his head in front but has run well when reaching the frame on 4 of his 5 starts this winter, the latest when fourth at Uttoxeter last month.

Form: 3-43924

Non-Runners

Joie De Vivre²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: M Todhunter J: Jack Hogan

Bestiarius¹⁶

Weight: 11-11| Age: 10

T: G Boanas J: Tom Midgley

Forecasts

Tommaso (9/4), Hungry Tiger (7/2), Myburg (13/2), Click And Collect (9/1), Trouble Shooter (10/1), Court Jurado (10/1), Bestiarius (10/1), Joie De Vivre (10/1), Ex S'elance (12/1), K C Bailey (18/1), Monfass (22/1), Misty Mani (50/1), Contrebasse (50/1)

The unexposed TOMMASO could have got off lightly with just a 2 lb nudge for Doncaster and is taken to follow up. The drop back to 2m is a possible positive for Hungry Tiger so George Bewley's in-form 8-y-o is a must for the shortlist. Court Jurado and Bestiarius are others to consider.