15:00 Hereford

Tuesday 9 April 2024

All14:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Hereford Countryside Raceday This Sunday Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 1.30s

Black Occ⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 95

17/2

Stepped up on Rules debut fourth when runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Bangor in October. However, well held both subsequent starts, including on handicap bow off a 3 lb higher mark last time.

Form: 24247

Crystal Mer^t1⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: P R Webber| OR: 92

17/2

Performed to a fair level in bumpers but below that level since switched to hurdles, beaten 20½ lengths when fourth of 14 on handicap debut at Huntingdon (19.6f, heavy) in February. Early days but improvement will be needed now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: 26-0674

Princess Of Mercia³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: M Scudamore| OR: 88

100/1

Poor form at best in 4 starts for Lucinda Russell and it's hard to envisage this 7-y-o emerging on top here.

Form: 306P

Rocky Hill^p³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 87

15/8

Sprung a 33/1 surprise on Kelso bumper debut for Ewan Whillans in April 2022. No show first 3 starts hurdling but, following a 14-month absence and sporting first-time cheekpieces, he produced a much-improved display when a length second to Another Lord over C&D on handicap bow. Big player.

Form: 1/600-2

Shillanavogy⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 84WS

4/1

Lightly-raced maiden who was much more prominent in the betting than previously over hurdles but shaped as if amiss when down the field on handicap debut at Wetherby last time. Has undergone a wind op since and it'll be interesting to see if the market vibes are again upbeat.

Form: 36-5068

Ionity⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams| OR: 83

25/1

Little to shout about so far and major improvement needed now that he ventures down the handicap route.

Form: 757

Silver Atom³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 79

5/1

Remains a maiden in this sphere but has some decent bits and pieces of form to his name, particularly at this venue where he has made the frame on each of his 3 visits. Not beaten far when fourth behind Another Lord and Rocky Hill last time and should be on the premises once again.

Form: P-83454

Minella Majestic³⁹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 79

33/1

Point winner in 2019 but well held completed start in maiden hurdles in Ireland. The fitting of cheekpieces (omitted here) failed to have the desired effect when again well beaten on sole start for Paul Henderson last spring and best watched starting out for another new yard on this handicap bow.

Form: 1/7FF6-

Whynotnowroy^h,t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 77| BF

11/2

Still to get his head in front but has acquitted himself fairly well off this mark in slow-ground 19f Taunton handicaps the last twice. Needs to raise his game a touch in order to gain the breakthrough but he's certainly in with an each-way shout.

Form: 5-78624

Sally's Girl⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: J S Smith| OR: 59

150/1

Little form in bumpers and similar story in this sphere to date. Very hard to recommend from a long way out of the handicap.

Form: 75P9-P5

Non-Runners

Another Lord³¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: P & M Bowen J: James Bowen

Buck Of Maine²¹¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: P & M Bowen J: S Bowen

Ceejaybe⁵⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: Miss J S Davis J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Rocky Hill (15/8), Another Lord (7/2), Shillanavogy (4/1), Silver Atom (5/1), Whynotnowroy (11/2), Ceejaybe (8/1), Black Occ (17/2), Crystal Mer (17/2), Buck Of Maine (20/1), Ionity (25/1), Minella Majestic (33/1), Princess Of Mercia (100/1), Sally's Girl (150/1)

ROCKY HILL and Silver Atom were second and fourth respectively in the C&D handicap won by Another Lord last month but both have very realistic claims of reversing the placings with that rival this time. Ready preference is for the unexposed Rocky Hill, who was returning from over a year off that day and he is open to further improvement. Buck of Maine is one to note in the betting on his handicap debut.