14:38 Wincanton

Tuesday 26 December 2023

All12:1812:5313:2814:0314:3815:1315:45

Steel Beams Steelbeams.Online Boxing Day Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:39 | Winning time: 3m 53.72s

John Betjeman^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 112

13/2

Ran right up to best when second of 13 at Kempton (16f, good to soft) last month but well below that level at Ffos Las latest and others are more convincing.

Form: 2-22524

Black Hawk Eagle³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 111| D

5/1

Fairly useful Flat/hurdles winner for Noel Meade who shaped as if better for run for new connections at Huntingdon last month. This outing should reveal more.

Form: 150-9

Georgi Girl³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 107| BF

13/2

Fair winner in 2m juvenile hurdles last season and returned with good third of 10 on handicap debut/reappearance at Hereford (16.2f) last month. Not seen to best effect at Fakenham since and is one for shortlist. .

Form: 132-34

Ticking Tom Bomb³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 107

9/2

Unplaced on his completed start in points in 2022 but has shown promise in a couple of maiden hurdles in recent months and is worth a second look in the market on handicap bow.

Form: P6/34

Man Of The Sea^p,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 103

8/1

Fair Flat performer who has acquitted himself well over hurdles the last twice, latest when second of 13 in Hereford handicap (19.7f, good) 27 days ago. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 15-9222

Universal Secret³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 99| CD

6/1

Dual C&D scorer earlier this year but not been in same form since and makes limited appeal.

Form: 4117-P5

King's Castle^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: J Scott| OR: 98

8/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles who ran up to best when good second of 11 in handicap at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft) 12 days ago, running on. 3 lb higher now but ought to make presence felt again.

Form: 784-U2

Sarsen^t⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Houlihan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 97

20/1

Placed twice in maiden hurdles for Alan King in summer 2022 but was unable to make an impact on debut for new connections at Fontwell in October and has something to prove at present.

Form: 05/239-0

Glance At Me²²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 87

6/1

Found improvement earlier this year, scoring at Lingfield and Plumpton over this sort of trip. Returns from 7 months off and is not handicapped out of things.

Form: 68122-1

Theweddingcanwait^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 78

40/1

Placed in a pair of Worcester bumpers this summer (for Fergal O'Brien on first occasion) but has yet to offer much over hurdles. Tries handicapping now (from 6 lb out of the weights).

Form: 623P90

Non-Runners

Ventara³³

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: J Tizzard J: Jack Tudor

Forecasts

Ticking Tom Bomb (9/2), Black Hawk Eagle (5/1), Universal Secret (6/1), Glance At Me (6/1), Georgi Girl (13/2), John Betjeman (13/2), Ventara (15/2), King's Castle (8/1), Man Of The Sea (8/1), Sarsen (20/1), Theweddingcanwait (40/1)

Little went right for GEORGI GIRL at Fakenham last time and she is best judged on her encouraging handicap debut at Hereford previously. She gets the nod. Man of The Sea and Ticking Tom Bomb head the list of dangers.