14:10 Hereford

Sunday 27 February 2022

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Hereford Racehorse Ownership Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 53.8s

Accomplice^t1⁴²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117

40/1

Runner-up at Wincanton on his second start last season but offered little on his other 2 outings and would likely need a clear career-best to win from what remains a stiff-looking mark.

Form: 17/029-

The Street²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J R Wildman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 117

9/4

Showed promise in novice hurdles and made a winning start in handicaps at Chepstow earlier this month. Remains with potential to progress further with new jockey's 10 lb claim offsetting 5 lb rise.

Form: 57341

Pink Eyed Pedro^t¹⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 115| D

18/1

Useful and largely reliable handicap chaser, though wasn't at his best when last seen at Ludlow in October. Improved since last raced over hurdles in 2019 and is interesting from this lower mark.

Form: 432223

Eaton Collina¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Daire James McConville⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 114| CD

9/4

Travelled well when fourth behind The Street at Chepstow early this month and confirmed promise with a C&D win 11 days ago. Up 7 lb but now has 10-lb claimer on board and he should go well again.

Form: 30-3241

Melekhov^p1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 114WS

80/1

Went completely off the boil for Philip Hobbs last season and has a lot to prove on fist start for new yard after 14 months off the track. Cheekpieces on for first time.

Form: 5/500-PP

Apple Rock¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 111| CD

12/1

Notched 3 wins in 2020/21, but has been more miss than hit so far this season, reportedly suffering with breathing issue last time. Now below last winning mark, so claims if returning to form.

Form: 65-87P5

Feivel¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 111| D

22/1

Off the mark at second attempt for this yard in Hexham maiden in December and back on track when third at Haydock in January. Pulled up last time, but stil lightly-raced enough to progress further.

Form: 3-F173P

Canford Light¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 105

66/1

Won 21f Ludlow novice on debut for Evan Williams in October but has done little since, two falls preceding no shows on his most recent outings. Hard to fancy.

Form: 11FF78

Bari Breeze^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Kevin Jones| T: M F Harris| OR: 104

9/1

Bumper winner who posted his best effort over hurdles when second at Exeter 25 days ago. Improvement needed again but he's not discounted for in-form yard.

Form: 252682

Mustang Alpha²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Max Kendrick| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 99| C

28/1

Has yet to convince since joining this yard and fared no better sent chasing on last 2 outings. Tough to fancy on this season's form.

Form: 44-975P

Hipop Des Ongrais²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 97| D

10/3

Improved for the switch to handicapping when off the mark at Uttoxeter 29 days ago. Up in grade here racing from a 9 lb higher mark but further progress is likely and he's clearly still of interest.

Form: 75-8081

Forecasts

The Street (9/4), Eaton Collina (9/4), Hipop Des Ongrais (10/3), Bari Breeze (9/1), Apple Rock (12/1), Pink Eyed Pedro (18/1), Feivel (22/1), Mustang Alpha (28/1), Accomplice (40/1), Canford Light (66/1), Melekhov (80/1)

An interesting race of its type featuring a couple of unexposed runners. Preference is for THE STREET, who beat next time out winner Eaton Collina on his handicap debut last time and meets that rival on similar terms again here. Eaton Collina himself is also improving and is considered, whilst Hipop des Ongrais may remain ahead of his new mark after impressing at Uttoxeter on his handicap bow.