14:25 Wincanton

Sunday 16 April 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Eastbury Hotel Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 5m 20.17s

Lock's Corner^p,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| D

33/1

Ran out a decisive winner at Catterick and Ayr (both at around 2½m) at the end of last year. Appears to have gone off the boil for now, though.

Form: 211585

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The Bomber Liston²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R T Dunne| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124

6/1

Seemingly hard to train but ran well after 8 months off to hit the frame at Kempton on Boxing Day and returned to form over the same C&D last month. Respected.

Form: 12-84P2

Restitution³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: A King| OR: 123

14/1

Well suited by the emphasis on speed when showing much improved form to land a third handicap hurdle success of his career at Doncaster (2m) over Christmas. Struggled since, though, and will probably find this too competitive again.

Form: 21710P

Poseidon^p,t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 122

40/1

Useful chaser at his best who made a successful return to hurdling in a seller at Taunton in December. Only respectable effort since for new yard came when sixth at Newbury in a tongue tie 43 days ago and he doesn't make a great deal of appeal for win purposes.

Form: 6-P1866

Scarpia⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122

20/1

Won at Plumpton last year and back to form the last twice, again hitting the frame at Kempton last time. Ideally suited by further, though.

Form: 1R0-P34

El Muchacho^h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 121

5/1

Point winner who has progressed nicely over hurdles, winning a couple of 2m handicaps (latest at Catterick in January) before a near-miss in February. Quickly back to form at Bangor last time and should give another good account.

Form: 211203

Hermes Du Gouet³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| BF

17/2

Well-regarded point winner who was much improved as he made all in 16.7f Exeter novice hurdle in January. Solid effort when third at Plumpton next time and could do better for a switch to handicaps.

Form: 22-6413

The Pink'n²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 119

11/1

Pretty useful form in this sphere a couple of seasons back but not firing of late. Others make more appeal.

Form: 24/4994

Hermes Boy^p,t1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 117

8/1

Looked a horse to follow this time last year but added to patchy record when pulled up in Lanzarote at Kempton and wasn't really on song at Sandown last time. Tongue tie goes on.

Form: 3-542P6

Buckhorn Rocco^p1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 114| BF

9/2

Bumper winner who has made the frame in 4 novice hurdles. Bit disappointing when only third at Exeter last time but looks the sort to benefit from first-time headgear now handicapping. Interesting.

Form: 16-2423

The Street³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 112

9/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner last term but things haven't gone to plan so far this season and he was pulled up at Plumpton last time. Hard to fancy.

Form: 25-FFPP

Way Out²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: S Hosie| OR: 110

18/1

Off the mark in Irish points at the third attempt and displayed plenty of ability on first 2 starts in bumpers. More miss than hit so far over hurdles, though.

Form: 028628

Lifetime Legend^h³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 106

11/1

Built on early promise to get off the mark in female jockeys' event at Catterick (19f, good, 9/4) in February. Not in the same form when fifth at Fontwell the following week but he might have found the run coming too soon.

Form: 6P3415

Non-Runners

Umndeni⁴³

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Buckhorn Rocco (9/2), El Muchacho (5/1), The Bomber Liston (6/1), Hermes Boy (8/1), Hermes Du Gouet (17/2), The Street (9/1), The Pink'n (11/1), Lifetime Legend (11/1), Restitution (14/1), Way Out (18/1), Scarpia (20/1), Umndeni (20/1), Lock's Corner (33/1), Poseidon (40/1)

BUCKHORN ROCCO has already spurned a couple of good opportunities over hurdles but he's unexposed and well treated on bumper form, so he's worth a chance to make a winning handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces. The Bomber Liston and Hermes du Gouet are both feasible dangers.