17:07 Hereford

Wednesday 14 February 2024

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

Vickers.Bet Proudly Supporting British Racing Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 17:08 | Winning time: 5m 5.55s

Thank You Ma'am¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: G Nicholls| OR: 109

4/1

Improved from his debut in this sphere to make the frame on his last 3 outings in novice hurdles, albeit seeming unsuited by the drop back in trip when second in 8-runner event at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) 13 days ago. Opening mark looks workable and he's a player on handicap debut.

Form: 23-0322

Iris Des Issards⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 107

11/2

Point recruit who ran to fair level second time up over hurdles to finish runner-up in 17f Exeter maiden in December. Perhaps found the run coming a bit quick on him when pulled up back there 19 days later and he's not discounted now switched to handicaps.

Form: 363-42P

Toronet^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: L Morgan| OR: 105

12/1

Winner of a French claiming hurdle last February (subsequently claimed from Julien Phelippon for €19,999) and produced his best effort on these shores when third of 6 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at Uttoxeter (19.9f, heavy) 18 days ago. Likely needs mark to ease further to make a greater impact still.

Form: 261-743

Fourofakind^p,t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 105| BF

13/8

Fairly useful form on the Flat in Ireland and made it third time lucky in this sphere at Haydock last spring. Back to form when second of 9 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy) 39 days ago. Perhaps not the easiest to win with but he remains with some handicapping scope from this mark.

Form: 195-P72

Millford Sound⁵¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 100

50/1

Fair maiden hurdler for Peter Fahey in 2021. Showed little on Flat in 2022 and can only be watched having first start of any kind in 17 months.

Form: 540584/

Fresh Speculation⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: H D Daly| OR: 100

5/2

Showed a bit when mid-field only start in bumper and has seemingly been brought along with handicaps in mind across a trio of outings around 2m. Step up in trip should suit and he's worth noting in market switched to handicaps.

Form: 6535

Zufal⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 96

80/1

Came from a long way back to finish fourth at Newton Abbot in May but little form otherwise and he's opposable again.

Form: 0/P-499

Tik Tok³⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 88

16/1

Bred to be smart and shaped with a little encouragement on his sole start in bumpers. Not given a hard time so far over hurdles and expected to do better now handicapping. Well worth a market check.

Form: 3/068-

Non-Runners

Deerstalker²¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: Ben Jones

Equus Millar³³

Weight: 10-4| Age: 11

T: S-J Davies J: James Best

Forecasts

Fourofakind (13/8), Fresh Speculation (5/2), Thank You Ma'am (4/1), Iris Des Issards (11/2), Deerstalker (7/1), Toronet (12/1), Tik Tok (16/1), Millford Sound (50/1), Equus Millar (66/1), Zufal (80/1)

A couple of handicap newcomers make this an interesting heat, with THANK YOU MA'AM perhaps most appealing going back up in trip after a trio of very solid runs in novice company. Fourofakind made fairly heavy weather of things when runner-up at Wincanton last month but remains low mileage for a fine yard, whilst Fresh Speculation is another who looks intriguing stepped up in trip for his handicap bow.