19:40 Stratford

Tuesday 2 July 2024

All17:0517:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Saige Composite Products Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 5m 21.9s

Lutinebella⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117

12/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and successful twice in this sphere during 2022/23 campaign. However, she now has a bit to prove having offered little on her first completed start in handicap company following 11 months off at Wincanton in April.

Form: 1414/U8-

Sacchoandvanzetti^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

15/2

Fair winning hurdler in Ireland for John Queally and made the frame on first 3 starts upon joining Fergal O'Brien last summer. Creditable third on the Flat in April and was in touch when unseating 3 out back hurdling at Hereford (19.7f, good). Place possibilities.

Form: 22247-F

Hiconic^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 111| C

9/2

Took advantage of reduced mark when winning handicaps at Warwick and Worcester (both 2m) at the start of last summer. All the better for Southwell reappearance spin when second back up to 2½m last time but raised 4 lb for that and stamina by no means copper-bottomed now moving up to 2¾m.

Form: 4224-72

Jaramillo^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 109

4/1

Not the most reliable of types and while he has performed respectably on each of his last 3 starts, it's probably best to look elsewhere in search of the likely winner.

Form: P9P4-24

Art Approval^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R J Smith| OR: 109

8/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles and fences for Fergal O'Brien and, though winless since November 2021, his latest third in a 9-runner Worcester (23f, good to soft) handicap hurdle was much his best since joining this yard. Trip/ground fine and needs considering off this career-low mark.

Form: 28/P55-3

Westbrook Lad^h²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 103

11/1

Temperament clearly isn't all it could be and while he was on good behaviour when runner-up in a Uttoxeter novice upped to 23.3f last month, it remains to be seen if he'll manage to build on that.

Form: 75PP-62

Obsessedwithyou⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 102

10/3

Creditable third from the front when returning from a break at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) in April. Bit below that level tried in cheekpieces (omitted here) at Huntingdon last time but she's down to an attractive mark and it'll be interesting to see how she gets on now upped in trip.

Form: 4/8253-4

Ballyvaughan Bay²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 101

6/1

Placed on a couple of occasions in maiden hurdles and while improvement wasn't initially forthcoming in handicaps, he took a sizeable step forward when opening his account upped to 24.3f at Southwell 3 weeks ago. 6 lb rise fair enough and will be a threat if able to build on that here.

Form: 93V6-61

Non-Runners

Royal Pretender²⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: A King J: Tom Cannon

Mr Muldoon⁹²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 11

T: Dr R Newland & J Insole J: Charlie Hammond

Forecasts

Obsessedwithyou (10/3), Jaramillo (4/1), Hiconic (9/2), Ballyvaughan Bay (6/1), Sacchoandvanzetti (15/2), Art Approval (8/1), Westbrook Lad (11/1), Lutinebella (12/1), Royal Pretender (12/1), Mr Muldoon (20/1)

ROYAL PRETENDER's losing run is admittedly mounting up but there were positives to glean from his latest effort at Uttoxeter and he could be worth chancing in this open-looking contest. If able to build on last month's breakthrough success at Southwell, Ballyvaughan Bay will be a serious threat, while Art Approval also offered signs of encouragement last time and Obsessedwithyou is interesting now faced with a stiffer test.