14:40 Wincanton

Thursday 9 March 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 5.5s

Ballymagroarty Boy^b¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 115

4/1

Placed on his last 3 outings over hurdles, plugging on into third of 7 in handicap at Exeter (23.1f, good) 13 days ago despite coming off bridle long way out. Any rain would help his chances.

Form: 6623U3

Oscars Moonshine³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 113| C

11/2

Completed a hat-trick sent handicapping in October 2020 (last win here). Seemingly had his problems since but has hinted that he retains ability more than once this season and he's worth noting if market speaks favourably (alarmingly easy to back last time).

Form: 11/2-566

Jet Smart^v1³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 106

10/1

£80,000 purchase after finishing second in an Irish point and shaped encouragingly when fifth in a decent maiden at Ascot on Rules debut. Hasn't yet kicked on though, and whilst it's still early days, others possess more convincing profiles. Visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 2-5447

Hatos^b1,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Briain⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 106

17/2

Made a winning start over hurdles at Chepstow in January 2022 but has been rather underwhelming in 4 starts since, including in a trio of outings over fences this season. Mark could be workable if the switch back to hurdling pays dividends.

Form: 314-53F

Island Run⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 106| BF| C

7/2

Clumsy sort ran his best race to finish close second at Kempton on his penultimate outing and probably would have made the frame at Taunton (23.9f, good to soft) 78 days ago if not for another late blunder. Suspicion remains he could do better still if producing a tidier round.

Form: 713-426

Bluffmeifyoucan^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 103

10/3

Well suited by the run of the race when springing a surprise to land an Exeter novice last term and returned to form from out of the blue when second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Fontwell (21.8f, good) 11 days ago. Player if able to back that up.

Form: 91-0P02

Sermando^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 103

13/2

Thirteen runs since last win in 2020 but has been in good form this term, placed on 4 of his last 5 outings. Back up in trip here and handicapper perhaps has him in his grip at the minute, for all he should run respectably again.

Form: P33204

Non-Runners

Pontresina¹²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 10

T: B Lund J: Miss Thomosina Eyston

Forecasts

Bluffmeifyoucan (10/3), Island Run (7/2), Ballymagroarty Boy (4/1), Oscars Moonshine (11/2), Sermando (13/2), Hatos (17/2), Jet Smart (10/1), Pontresina (20/1)

None of these appeal as being particularly solid, but OSCARS MOONSHINE has slipped below the mark from which he completed a hat-trick in 2020 and a chance is taken that he'll be able to build upon the slight promise of his 2 starts in the autumn. Bluffmeifyoucan is yet to string good runs together but would take high rank if backing up his Fontwell second, whilst Island Run is another player if jumping better.