14:45 Wetherby

Thursday 26 December 2024

All11:5212:2713:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 41.52s

American Sniper^p,t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 125| D

11/8

Bounced back to best with cheekpieces refitted when gamely landing 4-runner handicap hurdle at Newbury (24.2f) at the start of November. Raced enthusiastically in a competitive Cheltenham handicap (21f) 41 days ago. This looks an easier race and he could be dangerous if getting his own way in front.

Form: 77-0916

Grozni^v1¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 125| D

17/2

Three-time hurdles winner for Charles Byrnes who ran well on first 2 starts over fences for new yard. Ran below form at Kempton on final outing and struggled when back hurdling from a 7-month break (pulled up Sandown 19 days ago). Needs to leave that run well behind and visor applied for first time.

Form: 22665-P

Foster'sisland⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 124| D

5/1

Winless last season but signed off with a good third at Ayr (21.4f) in the spring and similar form after 7 months off when second of 6 in handicap hurdle here (19.7f) last month. Found out in a better race at Cheltenham last month and this looks a more realistic assignment.

Form: 2543-20

Willaston^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 124

11/2

A three-time hurdle winner since joining Mark Walford but proving hit and miss of late, a well-held fourth in 3m Aintree handicap and a below-par fourth of 7 at Market Rasen 29 days ago. Needs more to take this.

Form: 02-0344

Liffeydale Dreamer^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 120

50/1

Completed hat-trick in game fashion at Cartmel in August 2022. Off the track for 28 months so no real surprise she didn't show a great deal at Uttoxeter 16 days ago. Looks up against it here.

Form: 38111/P

Bois Guillbert⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| C

8/1

3-time winner over hurdles (including here) who saw out the longer trip after 7 months off when third of 9 at Perth (20.2f, soft) in September. Backward step when pulled up at Kelso 47 days ago, folding tamely (jockey felt something was amiss) and market should indicate what's expected here.

Form: 3644-3P

North Parade³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 108

11/2

A three-time 2m4f scorer at Newcastle last term and showed benefit of reappearance when fourth at Uttoxeter last month, Disappointing upped to 23.3f last time but yard has turned a corner in recent weeks. A better showing expected here and can be in the mix if his jumping holds up.

Form: 320-945

Non-Runners

Castel Gandolfo⁶²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: J J Burke

Eire Street⁶³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: Mrs J Stephen J: Charlie Maggs

Forecasts

American Sniper (11/8), Foster'sisland (5/1), North Parade (11/2), Willaston (11/2), Eire Street (11/2), Bois Guillbert (8/1), Castel Gandolfo (8/1), Grozni (17/2), Liffeydale Dreamer (50/1)

AMERICAN SNIPER was far from disgraced when sixth in a better race at Cheltenham last month, showing plenty of verve from the front that day and he can score with a top conditional rider in the plate. Eire Street can leave his comeback run behind and back up in trip, he could be dangerous if in the same form as when second at Kelso in April. North Parade is better than he showed last time and could be in the mix with a cleaner round of jumping.