16:40 Hereford

Tuesday 24 October 2023

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:15

Vickers.Bet Weekly Free Bet Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 3m 58.42s

Stonific^p,t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 105| D

11/2

Won the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen for David O'Meara in July 2021 and, though winless since, he has returned to form this month with solid efforts in defeat at Southwell and Ludlow (both at around 2m). Remains on a good mark and bold show anticipated.

Form: 47-8723

Gerard Mentor^t,v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 103| D

9/2

Winner of 3 handicap hurdles at around 2m last season. Mark dropped following a string of low-key efforts this season and he bounced back when going close on second start following a wind op at Exeter (16.7f, good) recently. Big player.

Form: 06F852

East End Girl¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 97| D

9/2

Won on the level and over hurdles for Lucy Wadham. Well held on debut for this yard on the Flat last month, but wasn't beaten at all far back in this sphere at Worcester (2m, soft) 12 days ago and she's an each-way player off the same mark.

Form: 15023-4

Turpin Gold¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 93| D

11/1

Stratford novice winner last November and best effort since when third of 12 in a Uttoxeter handicap during the summer. However, hasn't managed to reproduce that form in 3 completed starts since, finishing well adrift of Gerard Mentor at Exeter last time.

Form: 4285F8

Noble Savage¹⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 93

13/2

First past the post in 21.5f Wincanton handicap in March but demoted for hanging left and hampering the runner-up. Not in anything like the same form since, though, and he needs to bounce back.

Form: 7/6D75-5

Swift Tuttle^h,t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 91

33/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat for Brian Meehan and left previous hurdling efforts behind when scoring at a big price at Bangor (16.7f, good) on penultimate start. However, he failed to beat a rival home next time.

Form: 679-P16

G'day Aussie^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 89| D

33/1

Scored at Worcester (2m, good to soft) on second run since returning from a lengthy absence, but subsequent display at Market Rasen leaves him with a point to prove.

Form: 157/717

Night Bear³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: A W Carroll| OR: 87

14/1

Fair winner on the Flat, but will need to leave previous hurdles form well behind if he's to make a winning handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 05/8

Ez Tiger^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 87| BF| D

9/2

Belatedly off the mark in a Southwell handicap (15.8f, good to soft) in July, benefiting from chasing a strong pace instead of forcing one. Backed that up when going close off 3 lb higher over the same C&D since and, though up another 3 lb, he's likely to remain competitive.

Form: 66-2412

Lady Valentine^v¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 87

25/1

Flat winner who was runner-up in a C&D mares' maiden on second hurdles start in February. However, she hasn't shown much at all switched to handicaps since and visor (worn on a few occasions on the Flat) now replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 7629-P

Starlight Glance²³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 78

14/1

Beaten a long way by the winner when second in a 10-runner Southwell novice (15.8f, good to soft) on her latest start in March. Still, that arguably represented a step in the right direction and she's in good hands to progress now switched to handicap company.

Form: 5/002-

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Jack The Savage⁶³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: L Horsfall J: Alex Edwards

Ito Ditto²¹⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: Nicky Martin J: James Bowen

Forecasts

East End Girl (9/2), Gerard Mentor (9/2), Ez Tiger (9/2), Stonific (11/2), Noble Savage (13/2), Turpin Gold (11/1), Night Bear (14/1), Starlight Glance (14/1), Ito Ditto (16/1), Lady Valentine (25/1), Jack The Savage (25/1), Swift Tuttle (33/1), G'day Aussie (33/1)

Though he arrives on a long losing run, STONIFIC has fallen a long way in the weights since his latest success and looks ready to strike judged on his placed efforts at Southwell and Ludlow the last twice. Gerard Mentor is a much-respected main danger having returned to form when going close at Exeter recently and, like the selection, he is on a good mark. East End Girl is a live each-way candidate, a remark which also applies to Ez Tiger and the lightly-raced Starlight Glance.