12:30 Market Rasen

Thursday 23 November 2023

All11:5712:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 4m 24.72s

Minella Plus⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100| BF

5/2

Hinted at a revival when fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle (3/1) at Ludlow (15.8f, good) 43 days ago. A fairly useful winner at his best so he is well worth considering off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 87-8365

Racy Lacey⁵⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 100| CD

18/1

Fair maiden at up to 14f on the Flat and made a successful debut over hurdles over C&D in April, 2022. Off 18 months since coming in only fifth at Hexham after so has her fitness to prove.

Form: 1/4-

Lady Gwen⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 97

5/2

Made a winning reappearance for her new yard at Stratford in July and resumed winning ways in conditional jockeys' handicap at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft) 7 days ago. The one to beat off an unchanged mark.

Form: 4-15241

Blue Bear²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 95

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Excellent fifth of 10 in novice hurdle at Kelso (16.2f, heavy, 80/1) 26 days ago, left with lot to do. Much respected on his handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 6P-P85

Royal Max⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Todd| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 94

33/1

First run since leaving Nicky Henderson when pulled up in handicap hurdle at Southwell (24.3f, good to soft, 50/1) 51 days ago, Others appeal more.

Form: 654-73P

Hugueneau^t1¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 93

9/1

Points winner but he failed to land a blow in three runs over hurdles for Lawney Hill. Lots to prove for his new handler after 6 months off.

Form: P41/50-6

Seaborough⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: D Shaw| OR: 90| D

50/1

A fair hurdles winner at his best but he's yet to show much this season, pulled up in handicap at Doncaster (20.8f, good) 6 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 1635-7P

We Still Believe¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Callum Bewley| T: D Bourke| OR: 89

40/1

Dual winner on the Flat for new yard this summer so this lightly-raced hurdler is no forlorn hope back in this sphere.

Form: 432/5P

Tropical Talent²⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 85

3/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Fourth both starts over hurdles, not getting home at Huntingdon on latter occasion in January for Sylvester Kirk. More is needed for his new yard.

Form: 44-

Climate Precedent¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: James Owen| OR: 100

10/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Michael Bell who made a solid yard/hurdling debut when second at Uttoxeter in July. Failed to stay when fourth at Warwick on heavy ground after but he can't be ruled out under these less testing conditions.

Form: 24

Forecasts

Lady Gwen (5/2), Minella Plus (5/2), Tropical Talent (3/1), Hugueneau (9/1), Climate Precedent (10/1), Blue Bear (18/1), Racy Lacey (18/1), Royal Max (33/1), We Still Believe (40/1), Seaborough (50/1)

A few with chances but LADY GWEN escapes a penalty for her recent Taunton conditional jockeys' success so is hard to oppose. Minella Plus took a step back in the right direction when fifth at Ludlow last time and appeals as the one to chase home Kim Bailey's mare, with Climate Precedent appealing as the pick of the rest for minor honours.