15:23 Stratford

Sunday 21 April 2024

All13:1013:4014:1514:4815:2315:5516:25

Bet At racingtv.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 4m 43.07s

Nick The Greek²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: J Coulson| OR: 103

80/1

Caused a surprise on first run since leaving Olly Murphy when landing a weak novice at Southwell (15.8f, heavy) in February, belying odds of 40/1 in the process. Not helped by bad mistake when fourth in novice seller since but may lack the potential of one or two now handicapping.

Form: F4-6714

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Deerstalker^t1⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 102

9/1

Qualified for handicaps with a pair of fourth-placed finishes, shaping better than distance beaten suggests at Plumpton latterly. May have found conditions against him when pulled up on handicap bow at Chepstow (19.4f, heavy) in January and not one to write off. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: F0-44P

Largy Force³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 102| BF

11/2

Fetched £85,000 after winning sole point start in April 2022 and filled runners-up spot in bumper/pair of hurdle starts for current yard, latterly at Chepstow (2m, soft) 31 days ago. Feasible to think she can do better still now handicapping over this longer trip.

Form: 1/222

Avada Kedavra⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 101WS

10/11

Out of an unraced sister to yard's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth. Caught the eye when third on hurdles debut at Plumpton (20.5f) in November and best not judged too harshly on his subsequent runs at Taunton/Warwick. Very much the type to do better now handicapping/following a wind op.

Form: 4-377

Camino Rocio¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 92

66/1

Milan gelding who offered something to work on when fifth on hurdles debut at Ballinrobe (2m) last spring. Well held in pair of starts on these shores for Gary Brown thereafter and would need to see market support behind him to make him of interest now handicapping for new yard.

Form: 560

Gentle Victor^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: William Shanahan⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 91

25/1

Offered something to work on at huge odds on hurdles debut at Ludlow in October but hasn't kicked on subsequently, including in pair of handicaps in recent months. More needed despite easing mark.

Form: 7586P5

Secret Sauce^p,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 100

40/1

Fair performer on the Flat in Ireland and best effort over hurdles when runner-up in a Hereford novice (2m) in January. Easy to back, looked booked for fourth on yard debut in a Plumpton maiden (15.9f) 3 weeks ago but this switch to handicaps rates a plus.

Form: U625F

Garitsa Bay²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87

9/1

Didn't offer much in bumper/3 novice hurdle runs but showed a good deal more without being seen to best effect when fourth on handicap debut at Market Rasen (18.6f) 3 weeks ago, rallying 2 out and running on. Surely capable of better again on that evidence and worth considering.

Form: 78684

Rhodia⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 82

7/1

Runner-up on 2 of his 4 starts in bumpers and not disgraced on back of wind surgery over hurdles earlier this term, not looking ideally served by the return to 2m when fifth at Doncaster (16.6f) in January. This step back up in trip may help.

Form: 4-65655

Rebel Mc^t1³⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 76WS

50/1

Black Sam Bellamy gelding who offered little in novice hurdles and only minor promise on second of his 3 starts in handicaps last spring. Starts out for new yard on back of wind surgery/equipped with a tongue tie but significant improvement needed.

Form: P96P5-0

My Granny Lily^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 76

16/1

Suited by more patient tactics when off the mark in 11-runner handicap hurdle (15/2) at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) in February. Not disgraced by any means in 2 starts since, fifth of 9 in handicap at Chepstow (2m) 31 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 3-4F135

Den The Diva^p1⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 73

125/1

Little form in mares' novice hurdles and fared no better in handicaps to date, pulled up at Huntingdon (19.6f) in February. Cheekpieces go on for 1st time but she looks up against it.

Form: 74-97PP

Forecasts

Avada Kedavra (10/11), Largy Force (11/2), Rhodia (7/1), Garitsa Bay (9/1), Deerstalker (9/1), My Granny Lily (16/1), Gentle Victor (25/1), Secret Sauce (40/1), Rebel Mc (50/1), Camino Rocio (66/1), Nick The Greek (80/1), Den The Diva (125/1)

AVADA KEDAVRA showed distinct signs of promise on his first of 3 novice/maiden hurdles earlier this term and, very much appealing as the type to do better now handicapping, Nicky Henderson's well-bred sort is of definite interest here. Garitsa Bay, who very much caught the eye at Market Rasen 3 weeks ago, is another to consider, along with Warren Greatrex's mare Largy Force.