14:45 Newton Abbot

Monday 2 October 2023

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Weatherbys Stallion Book Conditional Jockeys' Selling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 40.3s

Absolute Ruler^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 104| BF

17/2

Fair Flat winner who built on hurdles debut promise when accounting for 6 rivals in 2m Huntingdon maiden at the end of May. Disappointing on latest start in this sphere in July, though, and subsequent spin on the level was hardly encouraging.

Form: 21236

Peaceful Sunday^p,t1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Dylan Whelan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 100

4/1

Fair ex-Irish winner who posted his best effor for his current yard when fourth of 8 at Stratford (18.7f, good) on penultimate start. Failed to build on that upped to 23f at Worcester next time and now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: 34-2447

Idilico¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95| BF

5/1

Latest success was registered off a 2 lb higher mark at Perth last summer. Mixed bag since and was well held on recent debut for this yard on the Flat, but he will be a threat if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 64940-6

Kalma³⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Toby Wynne| T: D Pipe| OR: 96

18/1

Winner on the Flat and off mark over hurdles for Alan King at Exeter in April 2022. However, failed to complete on 3 of his 4 starts for this yard in the second half of last year and fair bit to prove here back from a 12-month absence.

Form: 71/C5PP-

Systemic^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 91

7/2

Gained breakthrough over hurdles in a 2m Plumpton handicap in May 2022. Shaped pretty well when bidding to win that same race on return this year and while his subsequent efforts haven't been up to scratch, he has to be considered in a race of this nature.

Form: 25/12-66

Foxey²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Lewis Stones| T: O Murphy| OR: 90

5/2

Showed fair form in bumpers and over hurdles for James Ewart in 2020/21. Shaped as though he retains ability when returning from a 26-month layoff on debut for this yard at Worcester (2m, soft) and likely to be sharper now.

Form: 43P34/5

Ocean Reach¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 79

9/1

Modest on Flat and just poor form at best over hurdles. Looks up against it from 14 lb out of the weights here.

Form: 935/035

Non-Runners

Vorashann²⁸⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: J Coulson J: Gearoid Harney

Forecasts

Foxey (5/2), Systemic (7/2), Peaceful Sunday (4/1), Vorashann (4/1), Idilico (5/1), Absolute Ruler (17/2), Ocean Reach (9/1), Kalma (18/1)

It's reasonable to expect FOXEY to come on for his comeback run at Worcester where he was returning from a lengthy absence and, granted a more assured round of jumping here, the 8-y-o can make his second start for the Olly Murphy yard a winning one. Systemic is clear second choice ahead of Idilico.