15:45 Wincanton

Thursday 26 December 2024

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

Longman Cheese Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 3m 50.55s

Walk On High^h,t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 112

13/2

7-y-o who hasn't stood much racing posted his best effort yet when second of 8 on C&D handicap debut 9 days ago, without looking the easiest of rides. Still, likely he can feature with a repeat.

Form: 074/F-32

Byzantium^h1,t1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 109

11/1

Won on his only Flat start in France in autumn 2023 and fair form at best in trio of hurdle runs for present yard. Too free on qualifying run when fourth at Taunton 2 weeks ago but application of a hood/tongue tie can help and considered on handicap bow.

Form: 2-24

Lumi Plugin²³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 107

18/1

Showed ability in bumpers and built on debut promise in this sphere when again finding only one too good in a Fontwell maiden (21.7f) 7 months ago, likely to have gone very close without a bad mistake 2 out. Remains unexposed and likely there's better to come now handicapping.

Form: 5362-2

Sunninghill^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 106

6/1

Fair form in light Flat campaign and similar form over hurdles, best effort yet when runner-up on handicap debut at Exeter (16.7f) 3 weeks ago. Stamina run dry having briefly looked a threat when fifth of 9 in a C&D handicap 21 days ago and he remains of interest from this mark.

Form: 4325

Double Dragon²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 105

4/1

Stepped up on hurdle debut third when taking a 2m Ffos Las maiden (good) in May. 11/1, may of needed the run after 6 months off when fourth of 9 on C&D handicap hurdle debut 3 weeks ago and he remains unexposed.

Form: 40-314

Voix De Bocelli²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 103

33/1

Fair form in France for Francois Nicolle but boasts a mixed record under various codes for present stable. Needs to step up again making handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 3P-48F4

Golden Dove^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 98

40/1

Fair on the Flat (stays 1½m) and promise on second of 3 starts in maiden/novice hurdles at Kempton (2m) last month. Never figured in a C&D maiden 5 weeks ago but this switch to handicaps in her favour now.

Form: 725

Afta Party⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 98

22/1

Returned to winning ways at Worcester (2m) in July. However, below form in both codes since, left behind approaching the last when fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 9 days ago. Others stronger.

Form: 719505

John Betjeman¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 97

8/1

Comes here on a long losing run but with usual blinkers discarded, ran best race for some time when third of 9 in handicap hurdle (7/1) at Fontwell (17.7f, soft) 16 days ago. Well treated if he can build on that now.

Form: 33-4843

Ellerton²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 97

33/1

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 1¾m) and went close without winning over hurdles for Syd Hosie. Excuses on account of the ground starting out for new yard/after 5 months off when last of 6 in handicap hurdle at Sandown (2m, soft) 20 days ago and he's not one to write off.

Form: 26-3276

Doyen Magic²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 96

66/1

Down the field sole start in bumpers and only modest form at best so far over hurdles. Checked out quickly when seventh of 8 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, good to soft) on yard debut 29 days ago and she needs to step up a good deal on that.

Form: 45-3677

Ugo Bingo^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Anna Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 93

10/1

Stepped up in trip and duly showed improved form to get off the mark over hurdles at Taunton (19f) in November. Unseated at sixth in follow-up bid at that venue (23.9f) 2 weeks back and he takes a marked step back in trip now.

Form: 65341U

Penna Rossa⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 90| BF

5/1

Not won since 2022 but promising first effort for new yard when runner-up at Exeter in November. Exploits mixed since however, finishing only ninth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, good to soft, 4/1) 5 days ago.

Form: 82P529

Ryder's Rock^b,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 83

17/2

Newton Abbot winner in September and bounced back to her best with blinkers refitted when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, soft, 15/2) 24 days ago. Each way possibilities back down in trip.

Form: 6153U4

Prince Rhinegold³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 76

28/1

Exeter novice winner (16.7f) early last year who dispelled several lesser displays after 6 months off when third of 7 in a C&D handicap 5 weeks ago. Whether he'll be in the same form here though is questionable, operating from 8 lb out of the weights.

Form: 050-0P3

Forecasts

Double Dragon (4/1), Penna Rossa (5/1), Sunninghill (6/1), Walk On High (13/2), John Betjeman (8/1), Ryder's Rock (17/2), Ugo Bingo (10/1), Byzantium (11/1), Lumi Plugin (18/1), Afta Party (22/1), Prince Rhinegold (28/1), Ellerton (33/1), Voix De Bocelli (33/1), Golden Dove (40/1), Doyen Magic (66/1)

SUNNINGHILL shaped much better than the bare result before testing conditions seemed to find him out when fifth in a C&D handicap 3 weeks ago. Appealing as being on a handy mark, a return to this sounder surface is firmly in his favour and he's given the narrow vote to confirm earlier promise. Byzantium, on handicap debut and Walk On High are a couple of the likelier threats, with Lumi Plugin and Ellerton a couple of others making appeal.