16:40 Wetherby

Wednesday 18 October 2023

All13:5314:2514:5815:3316:0816:4017:15

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Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 5m 57.40s

Butler's Brief^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 118

28/1

Got back on scoreboard at Uttoxeter in July and proved conclusively that fences aren't for him when pulled up at Worcester early last month. Pulled up again back over hurdles just 2 days later at Bangor and now has questions to answer.

Form: 8-513PP

Sea The Clouds²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 117

5/4

Underlined this is his time of year when taking a Worcester handicap at the end of August and followed up in the style of one that will remain competitive at Warwick (25f, good) just over 3 weeks ago, suited by the step up in trip. Respected up another 4 lb.

Form: 2-46211

Miss Milano¹⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 114| C| D

5/1

Completed a hat-trick last season. Had winning run ended up in grade when fourth of 7 at Perth (26.5f) 6 months ago. Career best will be needed to defy her current mark.

Form: 2/61114-

Duke Of Deception^p¹⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 105| BF| D

3/1

Off the mark at Musselburgh in February and didn't need to improve to resume winning ways at Huntingdon in April. Similar form when third at Uttoxeter back in May (albeit not for the first time promising a bit more than he delivered) and now returns over hurdles.

Form: 2F171-3

Belles Benefit⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: B I Case| OR: 102

9/2

Landed a gamble in good style on first run for yard at Fontwell and continued in form, taking a keen hold and no match for classy winner at Market Rasen in July 2022. Shaped as if as good as ever after 13 months off when fourth at Cartmel recently and could step up on that here.

Form: 31322-4

Balkotic^p,t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97

22/1

Struck twice last autumn but out of sorts this campaign. Back up in trip but others preferred.

Form: 11-9U00

Non-Runners

Feivel¹⁶⁵

Weight: 11-13| Age: 8

T: S Edmunds J: Charlie Hammond

Firth Of Forth¹⁶¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Rowdy Rustler³⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: D R Fox

Forecasts

Sea The Clouds (5/4), Duke Of Deception (3/1), Feivel (7/2), Belles Benefit (9/2), Miss Milano (5/1), Firth Of Forth (7/1), Rowdy Rustler (14/1), Balkotic (22/1), Butler's Brief (28/1)

Cases can be made for many but preference is for ROWDY RUSTLER, who has been out of sorts since finishing runner-up at Newcastle 11 months ago but could be worth chancing for a yard who has hit the ground running this autumn. Feivel's jumping let him down back in the spring, but he may emerge as the main danger returning over hurdles, with the hat-trick-seeking Sea The Clouds and Belles Benefit taken to battle out third spot.