18:05 Warwick

Monday 6 May 2024

All14:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:3518:05

Welcombe Hills Vineyard Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 6m 14.20s

Lepashe³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R T Dunne| T: S Allwood| OR: 100

20/1

Point winner who has shown fair form at best over hurdles but struggled last season, including remote fourth in 3m Chepstow maiden hurdle 5 weeks ago.

Form: 0/P56P4-

Prince De Juilley^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: A Ralph| OR: 100

14/1

Maiden jumper who ran one of his better races when second of 13 in Stratford handicap hurdle 15 days ago. Claims if he can back that up.

Form: 34/34P2-

Pride Of Paris²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 100| BF

9/1

Improved to make a winning handicap hurdle debut at Fontwell in January, proving game. Unseated early in chase at Taunton sole outing since. Respected back hurdling.

Form: 5/7471U-

Espinator⁸⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Houlihan| T: A Wintle| OR: 97

150/1

A three-time hurdles winner in 2021. Also second at Newton Abbot in September 2022 but pulled up on return from long absence in March. Has something to prove after that.

Form: 13972/P-

Floating Rock¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Chris Ward⁽³⁾| T: M Gates| OR: 97

20/1

Regular winner over the years but 0-5 for current yard, albeit he was entitled to have needed a recent Stratford outing after a year off.

Form: 1P69/56-

Steal My Sunshine^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 97

13/2

Pair of handicap hurdle wins in the first half of last season. No impact over fences this spring but has dipped to his last successful mark and no surprise were he to stage a revival back hurdling.

Form: 1444P8-

Jack The Farmer^p²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 93

7/1

Finally got off the mark with a ready success at Worcester (23f) last July. Runner-up twice subsequently but and claims if fully primed after 6 months off.

Form: 21252P-

Ri Na Cuirte²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 92

7/2

Modest form over hurdles, beaten 18 lengths when second of 5 on 3m Doncaster handicap debut in March. Failed to back that up when down the field at Exeter 5 weeks later.

Form: 2/56628-

Caspers Court²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Godfrey| T: K Woollacott| OR: 92

14/1

Won back-to-back handicaps around 21f in early 2023. Unable to make a significant impact since but his mark has dipped and he might have needed the outing at Exeter last time after 4 months off. Yard's good record in this (won it in 2021 and 2022) makes him of some interest

Form: 857P76-

Just Jess⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 81| DWS

6/1

Now 5 lb below the mark off which she hit the target at Catterick in January 2023. Mixed record since but could be dangerous if a recent wind operation has had a positive effect.

Form: P25P86-

He Is A Cracker^t²⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G Brown| OR: 80

6/1

In good form at the start of last season, placing 3 times (including this race on reappearance) before winning over fences at Fontwell in September. Capable when fresh. Respected.

Form: 20/2321-

Newtonian^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 79

10/1

Remains a maiden after 20 runs but he has reached the frame on 5 of his last starts, finishing third of 11 over 23f at Exeter latest. Should figure again.

Form: 2P4443-

Dakota Beat^t²³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: J R Norton| OR: 77

40/1

Won a 23f Bangor handicap last August. Also a creditable fourth at Hexham in September but off since a below-par effort at Uttoxeter in September.

Form: 6/66147-

Elfride^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R T Phillips| OR: 72

25/1

Improved to win a 23f Uttoxeter handicap last spring but little of note since, including last of 7 at Chepstow 23 days ago.

Form: U4F5P7-

Non-Runners

Stripe Of Honour²⁸⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 11

T: A Day J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Ri Na Cuirte (7/2), He Is A Cracker (6/1), Just Jess (6/1), Steal My Sunshine (13/2), Jack The Farmer (7/1), Pride Of Paris (9/1), Newtonian (10/1), Prince De Juilley (14/1), Caspers Court (14/1), Lepashe (20/1), Floating Rock (20/1), Elfride (25/1), Stripe Of Honour (25/1), Dakota Beat (40/1), Espinator (150/1)

Dan Skelton won a division of this race 12 months ago and STEAL MY SUNSHINE might be worth siding with to stage a revival back hurdling having dipped to his last successful mark. Kayley Woollacott also has a good recent record in this race and her Caspers Court is another who is well treated if bouncing back to form. Pride of Paris and Newtonian also make the shortlist in a wide-open finale.