14:30 Ffos Las

Wednesday 15 May 2024

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:05

AK Bets Home Of Free Bets Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 3m 39.40s

Totterdown⁵⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 12-2| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 117| D

22/1

Veteran who capitalised on a drop in grade to record his sixth success over hurdles at Huntingdon (15.8f,heavy) in March. Has won on good ground in the past but does most of his racing on slower surfaces nowadays and, moreover, a 5 lb rise could find him out here.

Form: 55/46P1-

Kansas Du Berlais^h,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A West| OR: 114| BF

11/2

On a handy mark based on juvenile efforts and has taken steps back in the right direction following a second wind op and with a hood enlisted the last twice, latterly going close at Fontwell (19.2f, good to firm). 2 lb nudge fair enough and he's a big player with Sam Twiston-Davies aboard.

Form: 7/43622-

Bucephalus^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Adam Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 112| D

4/1

Came good in this sphere when taking a 2m Newbury handicap in March. Lost no caste in defeat when chasing home a progressive type at Bangor (16.7f, soft) last time, pulling nicely clear of the rest, and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 4/33812-

Now Or Never^t⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112

66/1

Fair form over hurdles and fences in France but hasn't shown much in 3 starts (all handicap hurdles) for present yard. On the upside, he's now a stone lower in the weights compared to his British debut in December, so this 5-y-o shouldn't be written off.

Form: 234/PP4-

Charlie's Glance²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J Martin⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 110| D

10/1

Scored at Huntingdon early in 2023 and not disgraced on his return (after a breathing op) when third in handicap hurdle at Fakenham last month. Wasn't in quite the same form back chasing at Bangor since but better ground here will help and he's not a forlorn hope.

Form: 3551/34-

Three Cliffs Bay⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110| CD

17/2

Opened his account over C&D (heavy) in November but form has gradually tailed off and he's opposable, despite the fact that this represents a drop in class.

Form: 613745-

Manuelito²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 113

10/3

Fair maiden on the Flat for Richard Hannon and has improved with each of his 3 starts over hurdles, most recently seeing off 7 rivals in a Wincanton maiden (15.2f, good). More on his plate now pitched into handicap company but he may have more to offer.

Form: 321-

John Betjeman^b²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 105| BF| CD

11/2

Three-time C&D winner who has steadily eased in the weights (now 4 lb below last winning mark) and posted another creditable effort in defeat when third in a big-field Taunton handicap (16.5f, good) 3 weeks ago. Likely to be in the mix once more.

Form: 857333-

Double Click^p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 103| CD

10/1

Bounced back with a career-best effort to land a 9-runner handicap at Chepstow (2m, soft) in March. Not the easiest of rides and was off the bridle a long way out over the same C&D next time but, to his credit, he put in good late work to finish second. Each-way shout.

Form: 902412-

Supposedtobe⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 100| D

40/1

Won selling hurdle and Uttoxeter handicap last summer but has struggled in handicaps since and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 61P5P-5

Saddlers Quest³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: H Cobden| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 92| D

18/1

Completed the hat-trick at Newton Abbot in September before acquitting herself well when third at Worcester (demoted from second) the following month. Recent reappearance spin at Ludlow was clearly needed but this demands a career-best all the same.

Form: 3111D-6

Non-Runners

Believe Jack³²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: Christian Williams J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Manuelito (10/3), Bucephalus (4/1), Kansas Du Berlais (11/2), John Betjeman (11/2), Three Cliffs Bay (17/2), Double Click (10/1), Charlie's Glance (10/1), Believe Jack (16/1), Saddlers Quest (18/1), Totterdown (22/1), Supposedtobe (40/1), Now Or Never (66/1)

KANSAS DU BERLAIS has got back on track since undergoing a wind op/fitted with a hood and he is taken to register his first success in handicap company. Bucephalus has to be feared on the back of his solid effort at Bangor, while the consistent John Betjeman and handicap-debutant Manuelito are others to consider.