14:35 Warwick

Wednesday 25 January 2023

All13:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:35

Watch RacingTV For Free For 31 Days Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| D

Useful hurdler/chaser in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien but absent for nearly 2 years ahead of this return for a new stable. Could only consider if backed.

Form: 0531U0/

Lebowski⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Luca Morgan| T: M Scudamore| OR: 129| D

Looked promising when easily winning 2m novice hurdles at Ffos Las and Ayr last season and got off the mark in handicaps at the second attempt with a taking success at Wetherby (2m again) on his reappearance. Raised 7 lb but he has the potential for better again. Respected.

Form: 5/11P0-1

For Pleasure^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A M Hales| OR: 127| D

Free-going front runner who disappointed in handicap company at Kempton over Christmas. Being eased 4 lb can only help but others certainly arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: P4-3440

Breffniboy³⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Claire Harris| OR: 125| D

Much improved when winning 5 times in 2020/21 but not at best in 2 outings for Philip Hobbs last term and returns from a year off for another new stable. Watching brief is advised.

Form: 1242/8P-

Washington²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 124| D

Bounced back from a poor run at Newbury when runner-up at Leicester (2m) just after Christmas. Likely to be competitive if showing up in similar form.

Form: 313-5P2

In The Air¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120| D

Won a pair of juvenile events last season. Respectable sixth in 2m Ascot handicap in November on his completed start this term. Handicapper dropped him 3 lb for that and he remains unexposed. No surprise were he to go well.

Form: 3116-F6

Hartur D'oudairies⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| CD

Winner of sole bumper start in France and made a successful yard/hurdle debut over C&D in November 2021. Has had only 2 starts since, shaping encouragingly after a year off when runner-up in an Exeter handicap (18.5f) in November. Major player.

Form: 1/15-2

Zabeel Champion^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 117| D

Smart handicapper on Flat who also landed Haydock handicap hurdle in April. Shaped as if needing comeback when eighth at Chepstow and failed to stay 21f at Wetherby since. Return to a shorter trip in his favour.

Form: 1241-85

Iontach Cheval⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 114| CD

Bumper/hurdles winner who recorded a career best when making a successful reappearance in C&D handicap (2m, soft) in November. Labouring a long way out off his revised mark at Cheltenham since, though.

Form: 1834-18

Bubble Dubi³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 113

Promising bumper performer. Has lacked a bit of end product in his 3 hurdle outings this season but he impresses with the way he travels and brings definite potential to this handicap debut.

Form: 343-254

Sergeant Wilson^h1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 112| BF| D

Clear-cut winner of Taunton bumper in March. Fairly useful form when placed in 2 maiden hurdles in November but disappointed when down the field on handicap debut at Market Rasen (19f) on Boxing Day. Raced freely on that occasion and this drop back to 2m and addition of a hood may help.

Form: 1-F320

Doukarov^p1,h,t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 112| D

Thrived for Sean Curran last term, winning 2m handicap chases at Newbury and Sandown, but has made a disappointing start for current stable. Remains to be seen whether a return to hurdles helps.

Form: 125-7PP

Forecasts

Lebowski (3/1), Hartur D'oudairies (7/2), Washington (6/1), Sergeant Wilson (7/1), Bubble Dubi (8/1), Front View (12/1), Zabeel Champion (14/1), In The Air (14/1), For Pleasure (16/1), Iontach Cheval (16/1), Breffniboy (25/1), Doukarov (33/1)

There's surely more to come from HARTUR D'OUDAIRIES after only 4 career starts and he's taken to build on an encouraging handicap debut second at Exeter returned to the scene of his win last season. Lebowski scored nicely at Wetherby last month and is feared most ahead of In The Air, who didn't fare too badly at Ascot on what was effectively his reappearance and has been given a chance by the handicapper.