14:30 Stratford

Sunday 14 July 2024

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Barbara Shepherd 80th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 36.23s

Gentle Connections³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 105

11/2

Four-time winner over hurdles in first half of 2022. Struggled after before back-to-form second in handicap chase at Bangor on belated return 5 weeks ago, finishing with running left. Of interest.

Form: 6P0/54-2

Aviewtosea^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 100| D

15/2

Has dropped a long way in the weights since winning back-to-back small-field handicap chases in 2022, but the majority of his efforts since have lacked spark and was well held at Bangor 16 days ago.

Form: 30PP-48

Dusky Days^p1²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 100| BF| C

16/1

Made a winning return in 17f handicap here in May but highlighted his inconsistency when running poorly there since. Headgear now applied.

Form: 2/63P-1P

Ingennio^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

18/1

Hacked up in a selling handicap at Fakenham in April and followed up there in decisive fashion 11 days later. Left Richard Hobson and just respectable efforts both starts for this yard.

Form: 3511-54

Coconut Twist^p⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Reed| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 95

11/4

Runner-up all 5 starts over hurdles last season and made a winning start over fences for new yard at Newton Abbot in May, beating 2 subsequent winners. Open to improvement and high on shortlist.

Form: 22221-1

Hobie^p1⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 91| BF

14/1

Irish point winner who landed a 2m maiden hurdle at Worcester 14 months ago. Mixed record over fences, well held at Worcester 6 weeks ago. Headgear on.

Form: 5P52-28

Chabadatika^p⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: S Hosie| OR: 90

66/1

Fair form over hurdles in France but hasn't offered much in 5 starts for her current yard, taking little interest on chase bow latest.

Form: 1/75P-7P

Unwanted Attention^p,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: R Potter| OR: 87| BF

3/1

Off the mark over fences in handicap chase (10/3) at Market Rasen (21.4f, good to firm) and backed that up with good second at Cartmel. Should go well again.

Form: 75P-312

Hollington²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86

8/1

Dual winner in points who got back on track reverted to fences when second at Market Rasen last month, albeit no match for winner.

Form: F1/5P-62

Play By The Rules^p,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 83

14/1

Failed to fire over hurdles last term and has fared no better switched to chasing.

Form: 0R9-455

Buto^p,t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 69| D

80/1

Very limited nowadays. 10 lb out of handicap.

Form: 2750-P8

Stunsail^h⁹⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Liam Harrison| T: J Tickle| OR: 59

100/1

No solid form. Makes chase debut. First run for yard after leaving Claire Dyson. 20 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 57887P/

Non-Runners

We Got Your Back²³

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: L Morgan J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

Coconut Twist (11/4), Unwanted Attention (3/1), Gentle Connections (11/2), Aviewtosea (15/2), Hollington (8/1), Play By The Rules (14/1), Hobie (14/1), Dusky Days (16/1), Ingennio (18/1), We Got Your Back (20/1), Chabadatika (66/1), Buto (80/1), Stunsail (100/1)

UNWANTED ATTENTION is very much getting the hang of things over fences now, clear of the rest when second at Cartmel, and can quickly resume winning ways. Gentle Connections was back on song after an absence when second at Bangor and is the obvious threat along with Coconut Twist, who made a winning start over fences in good style for new connections at Newton Abbot.