14:48 Perth

Thursday 4 July 2024

All14:1814:4815:1815:4816:1816:5017:20

AEJ Facilities Management Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 3m 46.21s

Well Planted⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: R M Smith| OR: 115| CD

8/1

C&D winner who isn't an obvious chaser on pedigree and background and duly ran below his fairly useful hurdling level at the first attempt over fences here in May. Will be much happier back over hurdles and ought to go well.

Form: 21265-4

Max Of Stars³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 115| D

11/4

Took very well to hurdling in the first half of last season, winning 4 times. Brace of runner-up efforts in listed company since and quickly bounced back from a poor showing at Cheltenham when second in 5-runner handicap at Fakenham (2m) last month, albeit having her own way in front. Respected.

Form: 12427-2

Carrarea^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: H McMahon| OR: 103| D

66/1

Dual bumper winner for Emmet Mullins and again over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m) for Mark Walford early last season. Sold for £2,000 and yet to make an impact in a trio of outings for this yard, albeit possibly needed the run after 3 months off over C&D last time.

Form: 15079-9

Sergeant Wilson⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R M Smith| OR: 102| D

9/1

Quirky sort who posted a good second at Newbury off a 7 lb higher mark in November. Safely held all 4 outings subsequently and left Nigel Twiston-Davies cheaply in May.

Form: 52448-5

Annie Agnew³⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: Gerald Quinn| OR: 106

4/1

Confirmed the promise of her hurdling debut when winning 8-runner juvenile hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft) 10 months ago, quickening 2 out and just holding on. Goes handicapping now with Sean Bowen booked and further improvement likely.

Form: 21-

Simple Star⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 98

4/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 11f) but well below form last 3 outings and returns to hurdling with something to prove.

Form: 22008/

Burgundy Man²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 95

28/1

Showed only a glimmer of promise returning from 3 years off on first run since leaving Mark Campion when seventh of 11 in C&D handicap (good to firm) 25 days ago. This will reveal more.

Form: 8U034/7

Darkest Day^p,t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: D R Fox| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 91| D

4/1

Landed back-to-back Kelso handicaps last September and returned to form with his reappearance behind him when second in 11-runner C&D handicap (good to firm) 25 days ago. Has to be shortlisted.

Form: 7668-02

Forecasts

Max Of Stars (11/4), Simple Star (4/1), Annie Agnew (4/1), Darkest Day (4/1), Well Planted (8/1), Sergeant Wilson (9/1), Burgundy Man (28/1), Carrarea (66/1)

DARKEST DAY returned to form with his reappearance under his belt when beaten only by a much less-exposed rival over C&D last month and looks to have very solid claims of going one better. Max of Stars is a likeable front runner who seems likely to give her running once more, with Well Planted and Annie Agnew others to take seriously.