14:40 Warwick

Tuesday 1 November 2022

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:20

Jewson Coventry Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 1.40s

Will Sting^h³¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 115| CD

9/1

Fairly useful hurdler who ran well when runner-up at Sandown (2m) 12 months ago. Absent since being pulled up over fences last December but fact he's gone well fresh previously a plus ahead of this switch back to hurdles. Hood refitted.

Form: 125/24P-

John Betjeman^b²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 114| D

10/1

Gained breakthrough success from 5 lb lower mark at Ffos Las (15.8f) in March and ran well next 2 starts over hurdles (demoted to second latterly) at that venue in May. Respectable fifth over 19f here in October and he's a live each-way player.

Form: 371-2D5

Jaramillo²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: W Greatrex| OR: 112

20/1

Useful on Flat for Roger Varian. Fell on yard/hurdles bow (in process of running well) and confirmed promise when second at Newbury (16.3f) in February. Lesser display at Fontwell in March but switch to handicaps rates a plus on return.

Form: F25-

Groom De Cotte^t²³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: S Curran| OR: 111

4/1

Low-mileage 6-y-o who showed much more than previously when third in a Newbury novice (16.3f) in February. Ran poorly on handicap debut here (21f) the following month and absent since. Market best guide.

Form: 9983P-

Laura Bullion^p,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Chris Ward⁽⁵⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 111| D

22/1

Fairly useful form in short spell with Olly Murphy. Not disgraced without threatening in a trio of starts for present yard, finishing well held second over C&D in September. Mark has eased a little more.

Form: 234-652

Big Boy Bobby²¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 111

11/1

Fairly useful 10f Flat winner. Similar form shown over hurdles and still in the mix when falling 3 out on handicap debut at Ascot (15.7f) in March. Still, he remains low-mileage and likely has more to offer this term.

Form: 226F-

Iontach Cheval¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 110| D

12/1

Bumper/hurdles winner and he dispelled a couple of wayward efforts when fourth on handicap debut at Worcester (2m) in April. Eased 2 lb ahead of this return to action and he's not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 01/1834-

Moorland Rambler²¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 108

40/1

Related to winners and proved consistent rather than progressive in hitting the frame on 2 of his 3 starts in maiden hurdles earlier this year. Feasible to think he can do better now handicapping on return.

Form: 6522-

Krokmou²⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 107

16/1

Fair form both starts on Flat in France and reached a similar level over hurdles, best effort when third in 5-y-o event at Pau (17.4f) in January. Not in same form on handicap debut thereafter but joined good yard ahead of UK debut. Market should guide.

Form: 4738-

Bahtiyar³²

15/2

Showed fair form on his final hurdle outing in France (when tongue tied) for K. Herzog and ran to a similar level both starts for present yard, second of 4 in a Fontwell novice (17.7f) in September. Had wind op ahead of this handicap debut.

Form: 073-32

Opening Bid^h²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 104| CD

7/2

Took this race from a 9 lb higher mark 12 months ago and, with a reappearance spin under his belt, he bounced back to form to finish runner up over C&D 26 days ago, that despite meeting with interference. Well worthy of interest on back of that.

Form: P636-72

Storm Hill²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: P Henderson| OR: 101| D

5/1

Merely hinted at ability only start in Irish bumper but all the better for yard/C&D hurdles debut when making all in a Plumpton maiden (15.9f) back in February. Opening mark looks a good one and he could just be worth siding with on return under Brian Hughes.

Form: 6/F291-

Non-Runners

Olympic Conqueror³⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: Dr R D P Newland J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Opening Bid (7/2), Groom De Cotte (4/1), Storm Hill (5/1), Bahtiyar (15/2), Will Sting (9/1), John Betjeman (10/1), Big Boy Bobby (11/1), Iontach Cheval (12/1), Krokmou (16/1), Olympic Conqueror (16/1), Jaramillo (20/1), Laura Bullion (22/1), Moorland Rambler (40/1)

A wide-open handicap in which the market should prove a useful guide but STORM HILL goes handicapping off a potentially lenient mark based on the form of his victory at Plumpton earlier this year and, with Brian Hughes a very eye-catching booking, he gets the vote. Last year's winner Opening Bid arrives on the back of a sound second over C&D and is feared, along with Iontach Cheval and Will Sting.