17:40 Stratford

Tuesday 4 July 2023

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Royal Equestrian Racing Club Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 4m 1.39s

Call Me Rocky^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Cobden| T: M F Harris| OR: 105| BF

9/4

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland for Denis Hogan. Well below his best when a well-held third in C&D novice seller in May (only outing for Cian Michael Williams). Best form gives him a shout having joined the successful Milton Harris stable.

Form: 8/4605-3

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Carapaz^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis

150/1

Failed to complete both starts in points and has no more than hinted at ability over hurdles in recent months.

Form: FP-P8

It's A Love Thing⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

25/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1¼m), ending his time with John Butler with a Wolverhampton win in May. Joined another shrewd outfit ahead of this switch to hurdles. Betting should help guide to expectations.

Form:

The Geordie Ginge¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 97

6/1

Seemed to show fair form when a close second in a small-field Leicester maiden hurdle in December but well below that level in his 2 other hurdle starts. First outing for 6 months.

Form: 4620-

Thorpeness^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 101

15/2

Well beaten in 2 bumpers but has shown a good deal more over hurdles with a tongue strap added, third at Huntingdon then second at Fakenham. A bit more will be needed to take this, though.

Form: 09-32

Trick Of The Tail²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 104

16/5

Fair form when in the frame both starts in bumpers. Translated that ability to hurdles at the third time of asking when 2 lengths second of 12 in 2m Bangor maiden last time. Thereabouts with a repeat.

Form: 3/4B-72

Love Mystery^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy

66/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Andrew Balding but hasn't shown much in 2 hurdle outings for new yard in recent months.

Form: 98

Outsmart¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ollie Pears

11/4

Fairly useful handicapper at up to 1¼m on the Flat. Made a promising start to his hurdle career when 5 lengths second at Market Rasen (2m) in June. Had excuses for his heavy defeat on the Flat at York since and big player back hurdling.

Form: 2

Non-Runners

Hard As Nails²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Call Me Rocky (9/4), Hard As Nails (5/2), Outsmart (11/4), Trick Of The Tail (16/5), The Geordie Ginge (6/1), Thorpeness (15/2), It's A Love Thing (25/1), Love Mystery (66/1), Carapaz (150/1)

OUTSMART was too free back on the Flat at York recently but shaped well on his Market Rasen hurdle debut prior to that and can make it second time lucky over hurdles. Bangor runner-up Trick of The Tail looks the chief threat for the Donald McCain/Brian Hughes combination.