15:43 Ffos Las

Thursday 9 February 2023

All13:2313:5814:3315:0815:4316:1816:53

Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 4m 57.32s

Militaire¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 114

4/1

Fair form in bumper and encouraging second on C&D hurdles debut in October. By no means disgraced at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but beaten a fair way back here recently and improvement is needed now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 4-4233

Issam^t1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Jordan Nailor| T: T Symonds| OR: 114

33/1

Winner of a bumper and also successful twice over hurdles in France. Little impact in 2 starts on this side of the Channel (both at around 2m), though, and hopes pinned on the step up in trip/refitting of a tongue strap working the oracle here.

Form: 8/1P-17P

Watergrange Jack⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 113| CD

5/1

Irish bumper winner who opened his hurdles account in good style over C&D last summer. Shaped as though returning to the boil when third at Wetherby (19.7f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and he needs a second look.

Form: 0-21403

Bumpy Johnson^p,t⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 113WS

7/1

Fontwell bumper wunner who has made the frame on several occasions in this sphere, including when fourth of 12 over C&D on return in October. Misfired in first-time cheekpieces (retained here) at Taunton a month later but given a break/wind op since and he's not discounted.

Form: 73/24-44

Oxygen⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112

14/1

Winner of a newcomers' event over hurdles in France in 2021. No show in 2 starts for present connections so far but his mark is on the slide and he's certainly not one to write off just yet.

Form: 14-56

Ballydisco⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 109

13/2

Maiden Irish pointer who improved on hurdling debut when second of 14 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter in December. Failed to reproduce that level of form at Chepstow next time but could go well for last year's winning yard now upped in trip for this handicap bow.

Form: P42-626

Poker Master⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: P J McBride| OR: 109

10/1

Won 3 on the bounce last season and progressed again on first 2 starts of present campaign, landing back-to-back 20.7f handicaps at Huntingdon. Bubble burst back at the same course last time, though, and he's probably a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 113-115

Shalakar⁷⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 109

40/1

Didn't show much on sole appearance (over fences) last season following an absence of almost 3 years, and fared no better back hurdling on return at Leicester in December. Oxygen appears to be the stable first-string.

Form: 1320/6-P

Zero Tolerance³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 107

13/2

Placed in an Irish bumper for Charles O'Brien and has made the frame on 2 of his 3 starts switched to hurdles for present yard. Needs to improve now moving into handicap company but it's entirely possible that he'll do just that.

Form: 8/P2-384

Jaunty Viking^t²⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: B Eckley| OR: 105| C

14/1

Off the mark in 2¾m handicap here in June 2021 prior to a string of creditable efforts in defeat. However, ended last season on a low-key note and entitled to need the run following 9 months off.

Form: 13325P-

Turning Gold^p,t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: R Bevis| OR: 105| D

11/2

Third success at Leicester when bolting up in a selling hurdle there (20.5f, heavy) at the end of December. On a workable mark returned to handicap company and he has to be high on any shortlist. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 8137-81

Forecasts

Militaire (4/1), Watergrange Jack (5/1), Turning Gold (11/2), Ballydisco (13/2), Zero Tolerance (13/2), Bumpy Johnson (7/1), Poker Master (10/1), Oxygen (14/1), Jaunty Viking (14/1), Issam (33/1), Shalakar (40/1)

While TURNING GOLD didn't have much to beat in a seller at Leicester last time, he did the job with minimum fuss and will prove a tough nut to crack if a in a similar mood here. The 9-y-o may have most to fear from Ballydisco, who has shown ability in 3 qualifying runs and this former pointer can be expected to raise his game now up in distance for this handicap debut. Bumpy Johnson and Watergrange Jack are others to consider in a competitive contest.