14:55 Wincanton

Thursday 1 December 2022

All12:2512:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:25

Weatherbys Stallion Book Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 40.23s

Filey Bay⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: R P McLernon| T: E Mullins| OR: 117

8/13

Had plenty in hand when making a winning start for the Emmet Mullins yard in 2m Doncaster handicap last Saturday. 7 lb penalty doesn't look enough to stop him with further progress on the cards.

Form: 6/5633-1

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Fast Buck^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 123

80/1

Very useful form for Paul Nicholls in 2020/21 but below par last term for Dan Skelton. Hasn't got competitive in a Kempton listed hurdle and course handicap chase since joining this stable and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: P333-54

Across The Line^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: S Hosie| OR: 120

66/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chase for Dan Skelton. Won a Stratford hunter chase for this yard in May but has found life harder in handicap company since. Latest Leicester hurdle third came in a 4-runner race and he's opposable in this much deeper affair.

Form: 4-31653

Midnight Ginger¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 117

18/1

Consistent mare who gained her fourth career win when rallying to lead again late at Chepstow (19.5f) in April. Creditable second of 4 at Ffos Las 4 weeks later. Off since. Each-way claims if she's ready to roll.

Form: 52231-2

Trolley Boy²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117

12/1

Made all in a Newcastle bumper for Ed Bethell last winter and reappeared to make a winning start over hurdles for his new yard at Worcester in July. Better form when second in a C&D novice 4 months later. Likely has more to come now handicapping.

Form: 21-12

Shallow River³⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116| CD

3/1

Won a bumper here on Boxing Day last year and followed up in a 2m Huntingdon novice hurdle a month later. Lacks experience compared to most of these but he's potentially useful. Very interesting contender.

Form: 3/411-

Coolnaugh Haze¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 114

28/1

Won a 2m Huntingdon handicap in April and runner-up at Ludlow the following month. However, he hasn't shown enough in 2 handicaps this autumn to suggest he's likely to add to his tally now.

Form: 321-245

Overpriced Mixer²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 111

16/1

Dual Flat winner who made a successful hurdles debut at Kempton in autumn 2020. Shaped as though plenty of ability remains when third on his return from an absence at Plumpton in October but dropped away tamely back at Kempton since. That leaves him with a bit to prove.

Form: 1U86/35

Amelia's Dance^h¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Walford| OR: 109

14/1

Scored 3 times over hurdles last season. Creditable third on both outings this season and being dropped 2 lb can only help. Each-way claims.

Form: 1344-33

Sergeant¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 104

22/1

Won a 2m Stratford handicap in September and went very close to another success at Huntingdon 12 days ago. Should give another good account of himself.

Form: 4214F2

Non-Runners

On To Victory²⁶

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: A King J: Tom Cannon

Toronto²⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: B Barr J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Filey Bay (8/13), Shallow River (3/1), Trolley Boy (12/1), Amelia's Dance (14/1), On To Victory (16/1), Overpriced Mixer (16/1), Midnight Ginger (18/1), Sergeant (22/1), Coolnaugh Haze (28/1), Across The Line (66/1), Toronto (66/1), Fast Buck (80/1)

A competitive race but it's still hard to see past FILEY BAY who had plenty to spare at Doncaster last weekend. Shallow River is a potentially dangerous opponent as he's totally unexposed after just one hurdle start. Trolley Boy is another who falls into the unexposed category and could have more to come in handicaps. Sergeant is also respected on the back of his Huntingdon near miss.