16:00 Hereford

Wednesday 14 February 2024

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3217:07

Always Gamble Responsibly At Vickers.Bet Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 36.22s

Another Day Out^p1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 100

8/1

Winning Irish pointer who got back on track when second of 5 in handicap hurdle at Sandown (19.8f, heavy) in December. Wasn't in anything like the same form at Leicester subsequently, though. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 123-P23

Just Go For It^t⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M Hunt| OR: 96| CD

6/1

C&D winner who again ran creditably when fifth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, good to soft) 8 days ago. Likely to continue in form.

Form: 414-P35

Atjima^b⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 93

22/1

Bumper winner who opened her account over hurdles in a 2½m Ffos Las handicap in March. Not disgraced final 2 outings last season but looked a hard ride when well held on her return at Taunton in November. Blinkers back on.

Form: F/P158-0

Selkirk Grace^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: H Morrison| OR: 86

8/1

Fair form shown in bumpers and made more impact than previously over hurdles sent handicapping when runner-up in 13-runner event at Taunton (16.5f) 37 days ago. Isn't sure to be suited by the much longer trip, though.

Form: 4-35582

Lady Balko¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 86| BF

9/4

Failed to trouble the judge in a trio of novice hurdles but this former point winner has shown much better signs since sent handicapping, improving again when second at Leicester (20.5, heavy) 2 weeks ago. May do better still and has to enter calculations.

Form: 1-65442

Kimberley Eve⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 86

10/1

Built on her improved Ffos Las second in October when scoring in good style at Ludlow (23.8f, heavy) in December. However, wasn't in the same form from an 8 lb higher mark at Exeter on New Year's Day.

Form: 363217

Caught A Vibe⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 82

12/1

Placed on 2 of 3 starts in Irish points. Well held on qualifying runs and failed to find any immediate improvement for the switch to handicaps at Fakenham in December but it remains very early days.

Form: 2-59954

Emma Hamilton⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 80

4/1

Well held in maiden/novice hurdles but did show fair form on the pick of her 2 bumper efforts and no surprise were she to improve from a lowly mark now handicapping.

Form: 4-2498

Orbys River⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: S Allwood| OR: 78

22/1

Failed to complete both starts in Irish points and only a modicum of promise to glean on second of 3 starts in novice hurdles so far this winter. Longer trip/switch to handicaps needs to have positive effect.

Form: P-FP66

Well Paid Soldier^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 72

33/1

Maiden who ran badly when pulled up in handicap hurdle at Leicester (20.5f, heavy) 14 days ago. Has work to do from 2 lb out of the weights.

Form: 780-R3P

Damask^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 72

16/1

Poor maiden who turned in her best effort of the season when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) 13 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 6-54664

Firefly Lane^t²⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 64

40/1

Winning pointer but has achieved little so far under Rules. Can only be watched back from 8 months off.

Form: P32P0-6

Lady Corrib^v1⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 59

50/1

Runner-up both completed starts in Irish points but has made no impact all 4 starts over hurdles. Visor goes on for handicap bow.

Form: P2-P98P

Regal 'n Bold^p⁶¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 45

150/1

Showed nothing in 2 bumpers/trio of novice hurdles in 2022. Upped appreciably in trip for handicap debut and hard to make a case for from well out of the weights.

Form: 80P/47-

Forecasts

Lady Balko (9/4), Emma Hamilton (4/1), Just Go For It (6/1), Another Day Out (8/1), Selkirk Grace (8/1), Kimberley Eve (10/1), Caught A Vibe (12/1), Damask (16/1), Orbys River (22/1), Atjima (22/1), Well Paid Soldier (33/1), Firefly Lane (40/1), Lady Corrib (50/1), Regal 'n Bold (150/1)

LADY BALKO has upped her game since sent handicapping and, with further progress possible at this trip, she gets the nod to open her account under Rules. Emma Hamilton has finished well held on all her 3 outings over hurdles but could prove a different proposition on handicap debut based on her bumper exploits. Veteran Just Go For It is likely to give another good account and may prove best of the rest.