19:25 Warwick

Saturday 13 May 2023

All16:5017:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:25

Winners Wear Cavani Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:25 | Winning time: 5m 0.50s

Red Dirt Road²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| BF

2/1

Successful on sole start in Irish points and easy winner on handicap debut at Exeter (16.7f, good to soft) in March. Didn't disgrace himself upped to 20.2f in a Cheltenham novice next time, albeit without really convincing that he wants this sort of trip.

Form: 1/1214-

Abuffalosoldier²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: W Greatrex| OR: 126

8/1

Low-mileage 6-y-o who stepped up on his comeback run to make first start at 3m a winning one at Newbury in November. Hasn't built on that in 3 subsequent starts but there were encouraging enough signs at Cheltenham last month and dropping back in trip here could be a good move.

Form: 0/31306-

I Spy A Diva²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 125| D

8/1

Won 3 on the bounce at up to 3m during the autumn and excuses when well held at Kempton in December. Firmly back on track with a good third in a listed race at Cheltenham (20.2f, good) last month but her mark as suffered as a consequence.

Form: 2/11163-

Restitution^p1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 123

11/1

Wide-margin winner of a 2m Doncaster handicap over Christmas. Struggled next 2 starts but step back up in trip helped when third of 13 at Wincanton (21.4f, soft) last month and should be in the mix if responding well to the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 1710P3-

Wiseguy¹⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123

5/2

Winner of sole start in bumpers and off the mark at second attempt over hurdles in a 24.4f Doncaster maiden in December 2021. Good second to a well-handicapped rival back from 11 months at Cheltenham (21f, good) in November and he remains open to improvement.

Form: 131/2-

Midnight Ginger³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 118

20/1

Likeable mare who added to her tally in 2m Newbury handicap on New Year's Eve. Not at her best the last twice, though, and she looks vulnerable once more.

Form: 231535-

Bertie Blue¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 115

5/1

Showed plenty in bumpers/maiden hurdles and left disappointing handicap debut display well behind when accounting for 12 rivals in decisive fashion at Southwell (20.4f, good to soft) recently. Up 8 lb for that but he can hardly be described as exposed.

Form: 25/3271-

Non-Runners

Hauraki Gulf¹²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Deborah Cole J: Chris Ward

Forecasts

Red Dirt Road (2/1), Wiseguy (5/2), Bertie Blue (5/1), I Spy A Diva (8/1), Abuffalosoldier (8/1), Hauraki Gulf (10/1), Restitution (11/1), Midnight Ginger (20/1)

The unexposed WISEGUY put in a good shift when runner-up back from 11 months off at Cheltenham in November and, with the promise of better to come, he is taken to go one better here. Restitution's latest effort at Wincanton represented a step back in the right direction and he could be the one for the forecast. Abuffalosoldier and Bertie Blue are others to consider.