13:40 Hereford

Friday 24 March 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2015:5016:2016:55

Cazoo Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 2.40s

I Giorni^h,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 96

6/1

Successful pointer who shaped well tried in a hood and dropped in trip when third in a 9-runner novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f) 15 days ago, running on. Into handicaps now and there should be more to come.

Form: 1-7683

Talkingthetalk²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 95

40/1

Left hurdling debut form behind when third in a Wexford maiden on final run for Leonard Whitmore in June but that remains a standout effort.

Form: F93PP5

Crem Fresh⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 92

10/3

Returned from a lengthy absence with a good second in 11-runner C&D handicap in January and has an excellent chance of going one better if backing that effort up.

Form: 8P6/22-2

Bella Ciao^h,t¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Atkins⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 82

13/2

Has achieved precious little in maiden/novice hurdles but at least gets a crack at a low-grade handicap now.

Form: 0-30874

Kenahope⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: W T Kennedy| T: O Murphy| OR: 81

12/1

Fairly useful ex-French Flat winner in 2020, but has been disappointing in 4 runs over hurdles, including in a first-time tongue strap on handicap debut at Bangor last time. On the upside, she returns from a 7-week break with her yard in rude health.

Form: 8598

Hazy Dream^h¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: J Tickle| OR: 73

10/3

Maiden who appeared to find the test too much when third of 9 at Exeter (21.6f, good to soft) 14 days ago, no extra flat. Not dismissed back down in trip.

Form: 502-863

Teasing Georgia³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: William Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 72

8/1

Bumper winner on debut for Stuart Crawford in 2019. Showed her first worthwhile form since then when third on her handicap debut at Catterick (15.7f) in January, but wasn't in the same form at Plumpton since. Bounce back needed under conditional claiming 10 lb.

Form: 7/07-334

Chantilly Haze¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 71

4/1

Poor maiden who again ran poorly after 3 months off at Ffos Las (20f) 19 days ago. Has plenty to prove back down in trip.

Form: 355-378

Forecasts

Crem Fresh (10/3), Hazy Dream (10/3), Chantilly Haze (4/1), I Giorni (6/1), Bella Ciao (13/2), Teasing Georgia (8/1), Kenahope (12/1), Talkingthetalk (40/1)

There was plenty of encouragement to be taken from the way I GIORNI shaped in a first-time hood at Wincanton 15 days ago and, with further improvement on the cards now venturing into handicaps, she's put forward as the selection. Crem Fresh is sure to be on the premises if backing up her comeback run, while Hazy Dream also merits consideration dropping back in trip.