14:38 Wincanton

Thursday 26 December 2024

All12:5313:2814:0314:3815:1315:45

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:38 | Winning time: 6m 25.71s

Stay Away Fay^t²⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147WS

11/2

Won Albert Bartlett in 2023. Better still over fences last term, winning twice, but he was pulled up on his final two runs at Cheltenham and Ayr. Still can't be discounted returning over hurdles here after breathing surgery.

Form: 4/113PP-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Gelino Bello⁶⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| DWS

22/1

Smart form when winning 2 novice chases at the end of 2022 but not seen since pulling up in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January 2023. Has had wind surgery. Betting perhaps the best guide to expectations given the length of absence.

Form: 1111FP/

Thomas Mor⁶⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| C

12/1

Lightly-raced sort but he made up into a useful hurdler in 2022/23, scoring 3 times for David Pipe. Off 21 months but still can't be discounted for his in-form new yard who have a good record in this.

Form: 111P16/

Ike Sport^p,t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 133

8/1

Developed into a useful hurdler last season, winning 3 times at around 20f. Unsuccessfully tried chasing but not disgraced back over the smaller obstacles when fifth at Sandown (23f) 19 days ago. Considered.

Form: R1-34F5

Largy Poet^p²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| C

7/1

Course winner who looked rusty after 6 months off when only sixth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Newbury (24.2f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Can take a step forward now and enters calculations with few miles still on the clock.

Form: 42112-6

Long Draw¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 127

11/4

Resumed his progress with a deserved win in 9-runner handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft) 13 days ago. Up 7 lb but he merits serious consideration once again.

Form: 122221

Lord Accord^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125| BF| CD

9/1

A fairly useful hurdles/chase winner this autumn and he arrives on the back of a solid second of 10 in handicap chase here (25.1f, good) 47 days ago. Much respected back in this sphere.

Form: 6-43112

Dartmoor Pirate²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 121| C

7/2

Course winner who beat only one on his chasing debut in handicap chase at Exeter (17.5f, heavy) 20 days ago. Possibilities back hurdling though and also stepped up in trip.

Form: 12242-6

First Lord De Cuet^p,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 120| C

40/1

Course winner who returned with a below-par fourth of 6 in handicap chase at Warwick (24f, soft) 35 days ago. It's now 16 runs since his last success in 2021.

Form: 24433-4

Rivers Corner²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 110| CD

16/1

Improver last season, winning a pair of 3m handicaps in February, and even better form when narrowly denied at Exeter in April. However, ran out at the seventh on his return at Doncaster last month. Well worth another chance, despite being 11 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 41132-R

Non-Runners

Firestream⁶⁹⁷

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: A J Honeyball J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Long Draw (11/4), Dartmoor Pirate (7/2), Stay Away Fay (11/2), Largy Poet (7/1), Ike Sport (8/1), Lord Accord (9/1), Thomas Mor (12/1), Firestream (12/1), Rivers Corner (16/1), Gelino Bello (22/1), First Lord De Cuet (40/1)

This could go the way of Olly Murphy's reliable LONG DRAW, who is taken to defy a 7 lb rise for his recent Cheltenham success. Lord Accord has been in winning form over both hurdles and fences this term and is next on the list, although the returning trio Firestream, Thomas Mor and Stay Away Fay all warrant respect too in a very open contest.