15:28 Hereford

Thursday 4 January 2024

All12:5813:2813:5814:2814:5815:2815:58

Daily Racing Specials At PlanetSportBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:28 | Winning time: 6m 41.39s

Steal My Sunshine^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 100

6/1

Has improved since the cheekpieces went on, building on Uttoxeter breakthrough success in May when following up on return at Worcester (2½m, soft). Creditable efforts from a ratings perspective both outings since but did go about things in laboured fashion at Lingfield on most recent outing.

Form: 60-1144

Mactavish²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 95| C

5/1

Opened his account here in October and followed up from a 5 lb higher mark with an even better performance (21.7f) the following month. Had his winning run ended at Taunton (23.9f) 3 weeks ago but ran into a couple of progressive rivals, so there's good reason to think he's still improving.

Form: 363113

Hill Of Tara⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 92| BF

4/7

Much improved sent handicapping this season, making it 3 wins from 4 starts in such company in 6-runner event at Haydock (24.3f, heavy) last week. Goes unpenalised for that success and seems sure to go well again providing this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 45-1121

Santa Clarita^t,v1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 88

33/1

Fair form over hurdles/fences in France. Stepped up on yard debut when third of 7 over hurdles at Huntingdon in March but well held otherwise for current connections. Return to smaller obstacles could help. Visor on for 1st time.

Form: 735-743

Dragoon Springs^p1,t²⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 85| BF

22/1

Modest maiden hurdler who finished only 10¼ lengths fifth of 17 to Elfride in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f, soft) when last seen 8 months ago. First run for yard after leaving Fergal O'Brien. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 5448/4-5

Inchiquin Spirit^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 85

28/1

Maiden Irish pointer. Unable to make an impact in 3 qualifying runs around 2m but that could change now stepping up significantly in trip for handicap debut. Watch betting.

Form: 3P6-874

Blackacre⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 82

10/1

Made more impact tackling handicap company here (21.7f) in November but, in truth, it was a hollow placing given how far behind the front 2 he finished. Needs more.

Form: 3-5983

M' Lady May¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 82

50/1

Successful on the last 2 of 3 starts in points earlier in the year but offered little on first outing under Rules for almost 3 years at Exeter 2 weeks ago.

Form: 04/31-18

Newtonian³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R Patrick| T: M Sheppard| OR: 78

25/1

Promise both starts in bumpers for Oliver Sherwood back in 2021 and showed first form for present yard when second in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Ludlow (23.8f) 38 days ago. Remains to be seen if he's able to back that up.

Form: 6665P2

Elfride^t⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R T Phillips| OR: 76

25/1

Improved to win a 23f Uttoxeter handicap in May, looking all about stamina. Unseated next time and possibly needed the run when well held after 6 months off at Exeter in November.

Form: 465-1U4

Coilrock^h⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Max Kendrick| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 70

150/1

Point winner at fourth attempt but has shown little over hurdles to date. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 1/098-P4

Non-Runners

Faha Belle¹⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Daire Davis

A Dublin Job²⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: Harry Derham J: Paul O'Brien

Fantomas⁹³

Weight: 10-9| Age: 8

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Hill Of Tara (4/7), A Dublin Job (4/1), Mactavish (5/1), Steal My Sunshine (6/1), Fantomas (15/2), Faha Belle (10/1), Blackacre (10/1), Dragoon Springs (22/1), Elfride (25/1), Newtonian (25/1), Inchiquin Spirit (28/1), Santa Clarita (33/1), M' Lady May (50/1), Coilrock (150/1)

An open-looking event with the vote going to A DUBLIN JOB, who shaped encouragingly starting out for Harry Derham at Market Rasen 4 weeks ago. Mactavish suggested he's still going the right way when third in a strong-looking race at Taunton on his most recent outing, with the unpenalised Haydock-scorer Hill of Tara completing the shortlist.