16:04 Wincanton

Sunday 29 October 2023

All13:1013:4414:1914:5415:2916:0416:34

Tony Young Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:04 | Winning time: 5m 27.04s

Oscars Moonshine^p⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 12-9| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117| CD

9/4

Finally took advantage of a falling mark in first-time cheekpieces when winning over C&D 6 months ago and proved better than ever in following up on seasonal return at Kempton last week (eased close home). Carries penalty and that may not be enough to prevent the hat-trick.

Form: 56651-1

Gyenyame²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 117| C

11/2

Fair 2m Flat winner for Andrew Balding. Acquired for 42,000gns after and he emphatically landed 2m4f maiden hurdle here in March. Below-par fourth in handicap at Exeter (16.7f, heavy) following month but he remains with potential on his return.

Form: U314-

Balko Saint¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Peter Summers⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 115| C

17/2

Dual winner over hurdles and unlucky to bump into a thriving rival when claiming a fourth successive runner-up finish over fences at Newton Abbot (21f, good) 5 months ago. Could well have a say in proceedings on seasonal return reverted to hurdles.

Form: 624-222

Bashers Reflection^t²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Paul O'Brien| T: B I Case| OR: 114| D

11/2

Improved performer switched to handicaps last season, supplementing his Fakenham victory in March with another decisive success at Plumpton (20.5f) a month later. Remains relatively lightly raced and he may have more to offer this term.

Form: 612411-

Sheldon¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 113| BF| D

8/1

Bagged his second chase win at Exeter on New Year's Day and in good nick since, sticking to his task despite a few mistakes when third at Kempton in April. Wasted what looked a good opportunity when seeming sure to win (fell heavily last) at Stratford in May and now makes return over timber.

Form: 14353-F

Lady Kk^p,t¹⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 112WS

10/1

Hurdles winner who justified support to win her first chase in 4-runner handicap at Taunton in March, responding well to first-time headgear. Ran too badly to be true and reportedly had a breathing problem next time and makes return over the smaller obstacles (had a wind op).

Form: 5/2261P-

Seignor Gringo³²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: R Bandey| OR: 111

33/1

Off the mark over hurdles in claimer at Argentan last November and runner-up on only start for P. Lenogue at Cagnes-Sur-Mer (16.9f, soft) a month later. Not seen since, so it will be interesting to see what the market makes of him on handicap/yard debut.

Form: 74P5/12-

Morfee⁵⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 109

25/1

Opened his account back over hurdles in at Plumpton in March 2022 and followed up with relative ease at Newton Abbot (26.5f, good) a month later. Not seen since but does return off the same mark. Needs keeping an eye on.

Form: 3P2F11/

Phillapa Sue^t¹⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 108

15/2

Placed both starts in novice hurdles in 2021/22 and made a successful handicap debut on return at Hereford 12 months ago. Solid if unspectacular efforts since, but she underperformed back down in grade when last seen at Ffos Las 6 months ago and has left Fergal O'Brien.

Form: 173366-

Great Ocean^p,t¹⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 106| C

11/1

Sole Rules success came over hurdles at this track in January 2022 for Philip Hobbs. Not the most consistent for his current yard, running poorly at Huntingdon (19.6f, good) 6 months ago, so will need to hit the ground running on return.

Form: 4UU32-0

Atholl Street^t¹⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 102

100/1

Maiden/novice hurdle winner at Taunton in late-2020 but it's been a struggle since, including in 5 starts for current yard this spring. Impossible to fancy.

Form: 3/FP98-5

Bring The Action^p,t²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 100

40/1

Sole success came in Wetherby handicap chase (24.2f) early in 2022 and last seen running below form back over hurdles in novice at Exeter (21.6f, soft) 7 months ago. Others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 54/25F5-

Non-Runners

Lassue⁶²⁷

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Jack Hogan

Mikhailovich¹⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: Non Runner

The Scorpion King²³⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: O Signy J: Ben Jones

Johnny B³⁴⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: C J Down J: James Davies

Forecasts

Oscars Moonshine (9/4), Mikhailovich (5/1), Gyenyame (11/2), Bashers Reflection (11/2), Phillapa Sue (15/2), Sheldon (8/1), Balko Saint (17/2), Lady Kk (10/1), Lassue (10/1), Great Ocean (11/1), Morfee (25/1), Johnny B (25/1), Seignor Gringo (33/1), The Scorpion King (33/1), Bring The Action (40/1), Atholl Street (100/1)

A big field but it's hard to ignore the claims of OSCARS MOONSHINE, who had more to spare than the bare margin would indicate at Kempton last week and Paul Nicholls' 8-y-o is fancied to bring up the hat-trick and remain unbeaten when partnered by his daughter Olive. Balko Saint makes his seasonal return from a much-reduced mark back over timber, so he's put forward as the main threat, ahead of Mikhailovich, who was an impressive winner at Huntingdon on return earlier this month.