14:55 Stratford

Thursday 2 November 2023

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Jim And Rita Feeney Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 51.62s

Henry Box Brown²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 92

12/1

Improved form when opening hurdles account at Uttoxeter last December and, though largely disappointing thereafter, there were positives to glean from his reappearance at the same course last month. Each-way chance if able to build on that.

Form: 1776-80

Kenny George²³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 92| D

14/1

Sole hurdle win back in 2019 but, save for a poor effort at Plumpton when last seen in March, he didn't do a great deal wrong last season. Resumes on a good mark and shouldn't be far away if fully tuned-up for this.

Form: 334225-

Rock On Tommy²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 92

25/1

Back-to-back winner of 2m handicaps at Uttoxeter in July and good second there when bidding for the hat-trick at the end of that month. However, he failed to make a meaningful impact on his reappearance last month and is probably a shade too high in the weights.

Form: P91128

Merry Dreamer^p,t²⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 91

28/1

Just fair form at best over hurdles in Ireland and offered little in 3 starts for Ben Clarke last season. Second in a point when last seen April, but he was beaten a long way by the winner that day and is opposable back under Rules on debut for new yard.

Form: 7P/6PP2-

Samatian^p²⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 84| CD

6/1

Off the mark over C&D on his reappearance/first run following a wind op last season. Held form well thereafter (made the frame all 5 subsequent starts) and he should have a role to play, provided he is again fully tuned-up on the back of a break.

Form: 132224-

Harthill³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 84

50/1

Well held in bumpers and only poor form over hurdles, remote third of six in handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot (21.6f, soft) on return last month. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 4664-U3

Footloose Man^h,t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 83

18/1

Yet to match his bumper form since sent hurdling, but his effort in a 16.3f novice here last time wasn't a bad one and improvement is entirely possible now upped in trip for this handicap debut.

Form: 234454

Gaia Vallis¹⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 83

33/1

Scored a couple of times in 2021/22 and placed 4 times from 7 starts last season, posting her best effort of that campaign when just touched off in a mares' handicap at Taunton in April. Still, others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: P7332-6

Mister Upton²⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 83

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who will need to leave the form he showed in maiden/novice company last term well behind in order to make a winning handicap debut.

Form: 88P7-

King Otis^p¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 76

11/8

Landed a gamble starting out for new yard off career-low mark in 2m Plumpton novices' handicap hurdle (good to soft) 10 days ago. Obvious claims under a penalty.

Form: 5-8P771

Smart Casual²⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 83

11/1

Bumper run wasn't devoid of promise and also more than hinted at ability in maiden/novice hurdles in the spring. Appeals as the type who will go on to better things in handicaps this term and he's one to keep a close eye on in the betting.

Form: 5956-

Boys Of Wexford²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 81| BF

18/1

Upped his game switched to fences last season, scoring at Uttoxeter before a string of decent efforts in defeat. No worthwhile form to his name in this sphere but will be a danger to all if able translate his improved chase form back hurdling off a potentially handy mark.

Form: P/81233-

Passing Kate²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 78

22/1

No real impact in 4 starts over hurdles for Grace Harris last term, but she made a fairly positive start for this yard when fifth of 10 on her reappearance at Worcester (2m, soft) 3 weeks ago. Possibilities if able to build on that here.

Form: 07640-5

Libor Lad^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 77

9/1

Good second of 12 in handicap hurdle at Perth (2½m, heavy) on his reappearance last month. That effort represented a step forward and, with this slightly shorter trip a plus, he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 06060-2

She Has Notions³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Atkins⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 75

16/1

Showed that some ability remains when third in a 12-runner Plumpton handicap (20.5f, good) from 3 lb out of the weights. Looks capable of winning a race on that evidence, but there will be easier opportunities than this.

Form: 39/6-7P5

Whynotnowroy²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 76

25/1

Third in a bumper at Wincanton last November, but he hasn't shown much in 3 starts since switched to hurdles and sizeable step forward needed now handicapping.

Form: 3095-

Forecasts

King Otis (11/8), Samatian (6/1), Libor Lad (9/1), Smart Casual (11/1), Henry Box Brown (12/1), Kenny George (14/1), She Has Notions (16/1), Footloose Man (18/1), Boys Of Wexford (18/1), Passing Kate (22/1), Whynotnowroy (25/1), Rock On Tommy (25/1), Merry Dreamer (28/1), Gaia Vallis (33/1), Harthill (50/1), Mister Upton (50/1)

There were signs that SMART CASUAL was getting the hang of things when last seen in a Wincanton maiden in April and, with improvement anticipated now pitched into a handicap, he gets the nod. King Otis looks a big threat under a penalty following his recent winning debut for this yard at Plumpton, while Samatian, who was a C&D winner on his reappearance last season, is also high on the shortlist. Kenny George and Passing Kate are live each-way candidates.