13:00 Wetherby

Tuesday 26 December 2023

All11:5212:2713:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

William Hill Epic Boost Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 5m 16.80s

Bataillon³²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 110

12/1

Showed fair form when runner-up in a pair of minor events at Toulouse last spring but never landed a blow on UK debut in Ascot novice last month. May do better now sent handicapping, though.

Form: 722-6

Elogio^p,t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 110

11/4

Wide-margin winner of Aintree bumper on debut/sole start for Richard Bandey last November. Fair form over hurdles for current yard, developing a consistent record, and this is slightly easier than last 2 races he's contested. Drop back in trip will help, too.

Form: 222-265

Onewaywest³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: K Brogan| T: B Pauling| OR: 109

8/1

Inexperience proved his undoing when chasing home one from the Nicky Henderson yard on debut in a Worcester bumper in May and made a solid start to hurdling when second twice this autumn. One to consider on handicap debut with promise of more to come.

Form: 222

Jeu Sacre¹⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 107

33/1

Fair form over hurdles and fences for J. Delaunay in France, changing hands for €32,000 in November. Unproven beyond 17f but joined a successful yard so one to monitor in the betting.

Form: P7-345

Mahler Moon^t⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: D Skelton| OR: 103WS

33/1

Well beaten in bumpers but not without promise in novice/maiden hurdles in the spring. In top hands but hard to get excited by what he's achieved both starts back.

Form: 5855-58

Strackan¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: H D Daly| OR: 103

16/1

Bred to be stayer and has shaped accordingly in his qualifying runs. May not be totally straightforward but now goes handicapping.

Form: 4-43

One Step Up⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 97| BF

10/1

Has run to only a modest level in a trio of novice/maiden hurdles and failed to improve for switch to handicaps when pulled up at Hexham (16.2f, heavy) 46 days ago. Needs to leave that well behind if he's to figure.

Form: 08-6P

Velasco^p,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 97| D

13/2

Back on form earlier this year, confirming previous encouragement when landing a 7-runner handicap at Hexham in June. Fair efforts both starts since and eased 2 lb, which makes him of interest.

Form: 7-24134

Heard That²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 96

9/1

Comfortably held sole outing in bumpers and just modest form in his qualifying runs. Return to further will suit for in-form yard and he may have a bigger effort in him.

Form: 52-4856

Samourai One^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: C Brace| T: L Wadham| OR: 90

22/1

Placed on 2 of his 3 starts in bumpers. Clearly been hard to train and minor encouragement only over hurdles. Handicap debut with cheekpieces on.

Form: 236/7-75

Mister Barclay³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jordan Nailor| T: T Symonds| OR: 90

9/2

Failed to trouble the judge first 3 starts over hurdles, but had the look of one who may do better in handicaps and duly confirmed that impression when third on handicap bow at Hereford (16.2f, good to soft) in April. Shaped quite nicely on reappearance at Doncaster.

Form: 8P663-7

Emotional Roller³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 86

12/1

Maiden Irish pointer and little encouragement so far under Rules. Handicap debut.

Form: 25-P6P6

Forecasts

Elogio (11/4), Mister Barclay (9/2), Velasco (13/2), Onewaywest (8/1), Heard That (9/1), One Step Up (10/1), Emotional Roller (12/1), Bataillon (12/1), Strackan (16/1), Samourai One (22/1), Jeu Sacre (33/1), Mahler Moon (33/1)

There should be more to come from ONEWAYWEST on this quick switch to handicaps and, representing a yard among the winners, he's just about the most persuasive option. Velasco seems sure to give a good account, with Heard That of interest now his stamina is drawn out.