16:15 Wetherby

Tuesday 19 March 2024

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:18 | Winning time: 6m 38.80s

Jersay Du Trottet^h1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 99

16/1

Appeared to take a step forward when fourth in first-time cheekpieces over 19.7f here in January. Shaped as though amiss when pulled up on subsequent chase debut at Sedgefield and his stamina, in addition to wellbeing, needs taking on trust back hurdling in new headgear.

Form: 3P-474P

Fainche^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 92| BF

7/2

Remains winless following 22 attempts and pulled up starting out for this yard following 13 months off in December. However, subsequent placed efforts over this C&D and at Carlisle are among the best recent form on offer in this contest and she should be in the mix.

Form: B64-P32

Mister Barclay²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor| T: T Symonds| OR: 91

7/2

Placed 3 times from 5 starts since switched to handicaps, including both previous visits to this track over 19.7f on heavy going. Failed to fire at Hereford last time but this new trip is worth exploring and he will be a threat if able to get back on track.

Form: 63-7237

Kinder Kid¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 90

4/1

Duly stepped up on what he showed in maiden/novice company when fifth of 10 on handicap debut here (19.7f, heavy) recently. Needs to brush up on his jumping but this step up in trip can help in that respect and he's open to improvement.

Form: 3/6545

Fiadh^p³¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 89| CD

18/1

Cheekpieces on for the first time when landing this race off a 3 lb lower mark 12 months ago. However, she wasn't in the same form on her next 2 starts, adding to what has become a patchy record, and entitled to need the run (absent since last May).

Form: 8P516-P

Mackie Dee¹²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 85| D

25/1

Shaped as though ability remains when a well-held third in a handicap chase at Market Rasen (21.4f, good to soft) in November, which was his first run for 16 months. On a potentially handy mark back in this sphere (won off 2 lb higher in June 2022) but he looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 62133-3

Just Jess⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 81

4/1

Now 5 lb below the mark off which she hit the target at Catterick last January but she's not the most consistent of performers and others make more appeal.

Form: 8-P25P8

Oliver's Island^b,t¹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 70| CD

7/1

Veteran who has found just one too good on each of his last 2 starts, albeit without really threatening to get his head back in front. Likely to come up short once again.

Form: 853622

Cantalupo Bella³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 85

18/1

Modest maiden on the Flat at up to 2m. Looked a non-stayer upped to 3m on handicap debut in this sphere at Southwell last month, so it's rather surprising that connections have decided to persevere with this trip.

Form: 386P

Forecasts

Mister Barclay (7/2), Fainche (7/2), Kinder Kid (4/1), Just Jess (4/1), Oliver's Island (7/1), Jersay Du Trottet (16/1), Cantalupo Bella (18/1), Fiadh (18/1), Mackie Dee (25/1)

This stiffer test promises to suit KINDER KID, who shaped well on his handicap debut over 19.7f here recently, despite clearly finding the trip too sharp and not hurdling with any great fluency. Moving up in trip will probably help both in relation to his jumping and in terms of sparking general improvement. Fainche deserves to get her head in front and she is next on the list ahead of Mister Barclay, who will be in with a fighting chance if able to shrug off a below par last-time-out effort.