17:21 Hereford

Saturday 12 March 2022

All13:5614:3115:0615:4116:1616:5117:2117:51

Manor Elite Horseboxes Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 5m 35.21s

Sure Touch^t⁵⁴

4/1

Bumper winner who quickly got back on track switched to a handicap when third at Fakenham (20f, soft) in January, shaping as if more of a test will suit. Should progress further and has had a wind op.

Form: 10-243

Greenrock Abbey²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Daire James McConville⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 102

13/2

Travelled well for a fair way on handicap debut at Doncaster and having been dropped 7 lb in a couple of starts since, he could sneak into the frame back down in distance.

Form: F7-3446

Braganza Bay²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: H D Daly| OR: 101

4/1

Has been brought along steadily over hurdles, unbale to make much of an impact after a wind op on handicap debut at Wincanton 3 weeks ago. Still early days and may feature dropped a couple of pounds.

Form: 8-05455

Fazayte^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 98

25/1

Shaped as if retaining all of ability on second start back this season. Bred to make a chaser but both efforts in that sphere has left plenty to be desired. Switch back over timber may spark him.

Form: 4/9-44U6

North Star Oscar^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 95

33/1

Ran no sort of race after 17 months off and on the back of a wind op when tailed off at Huntingdon 16 days ago. That effort can't offer his supporters much hope.

Form: 24/240-7

Beau Haze¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Jones| T: P C Dando| OR: 92| C

11/2

Bagged a trio of handicaps at around 2½m handicaps in the first half of last year. Largely respectable efforts this time round, but found things too competitive at Ludlow 17 days ago.

Form: 343755

Pottlerath^p,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Sheppard| OR: 88

3/1

Remains a maiden, but he arrives having hit the frame on 5 of his last 6 starts at up to 3m. Runner-up over C&D 13 days ago so rates a major player with the cheekpieces back on.

Form: 433252

Post Chaise¹²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 84

25/1

Placed on his only appearance in points but well held in a trio of maiden hurdles. Tongue strap on for handicap debut.

Form: 3-069

Best Pal^h1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny Burton⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 81

9/1

Decisive winner of sole start between the flags. Little show in a handful of runs under Rules so far, shaping a bit better than the distance beaten on handicap bow last time. Hood now tried.

Form: 138970

Rivarros⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Alan Johns| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 73

22/1

No show in a trio of novice hurdles, latest after a breathing operation/11 months off. Makes handicap debut but can't be fancied on what he's shown on the track.

Form: 5/0P-6

Forecasts

Pottlerath (3/1), Sure Touch (4/1), Braganza Bay (4/1), Beau Haze (11/2), Greenrock Abbey (13/2), Best Pal (9/1), Rivarros (22/1), Post Chaise (25/1), Fazayte (25/1), North Star Oscar (33/1)

BRAGANZA BAY failed to make much of an impact on handicap debut at Wincanton 3 weeks ago but it remains early days for Henry Daly's charge so he gets the tentative vote in a race where cases can be made for plenty. One of those dangers is Sure Touch, who is open to further progress with this longer trip sure to suit (also had a wind op), along with Pottlerath.