14:00 Wincanton

Thursday 16 January 2025

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:15

90 January & February Hospitality Offer Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 3m 44.07s

Another Fine Mess^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: J Scott| OR: 100

17/2

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler. Off 9 months/had a wind op before an encouraging fourth of 10 in novice hurdle over C&D (soft) 30 days ago. Has more to offer on his handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 3476-4

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Cawthorne Banker²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 100

40/1

Arrives out of sorts, last of 7 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (18.6f, good to soft, 33/1) 21 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 474507

Strong Belle¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 100

10/1

Winless this season but he comes here in decent nick, fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, good to soft, 20/1) 19 days ago. No forlorn hope.

Form: 1-P5025

Chicago Storm³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Robbie David⁽⁷⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 98

25/1

Ended his time with Christopher Timmons with win in 13-runner claimer at Dundalk (12f) 36 days ago. Possibilities back over hurdles for his new yard.

Form: 5606-00

Siam Park^h,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 97

8/1

Free-going type who has proven to be a disappointment since being switched to handicaps, unseating third at Taunton last month. Others preferred.

Form: 368-F9U

Mairis Icon³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 96| CD

15/2

C&D winner who posted a respectable sixth of 11 in handicap hurdle here (19.8f, soft) 30 days ago. Down in trip but not discounted.

Form: 4415-66

John Betjeman²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gillard| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 96

6/1

Eighteen runs since last win in 2023 but ran respectably when fifth of 15 in handicap over C&D (soft) 21 days ago. Likely to remain competitive.

Form: 3-48435

Odin's Quest²⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 96| CD

22/1

Bumper winner who landed a maiden over C&D in spring 2023. Mixed bag in handicap company last season, pulled up at this course on final outing in March. Needs to hit the ground running on his seasonal return.

Form: 1/PP33P-

Belle Montrose^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 91

66/1

Lightly-raced sort who looked rusty after 4 months off when fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Ludlow (15.8f, soft) 52 days ago. Can take a step forward.

Form: 87-5435

Dirty Den³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 91

3/1

Fair bumper winner who has hinted at promise over hurdles, fourth of 8 over C&D 30 days ago. Player off a 4 lb lower mark now.

Form: 5-24664

St Lukes Chelsea³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Godfrey| T: R Walford| OR: 98

11/1

Modest maiden on the Flat who posted a good second of 5 in juvenile hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, soft) 37 days ago, travelling best. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Not taken lightly.

Form: 742

Basman Palace^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: James Davies| T: C J Gray| OR: 82

33/1

Yet to hit top form this term, eighth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (16.5f, good) 35 days ago. Needs to build on it.

Form: 344-008

Je Suis Sacre³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 81| BF

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden who came in last of 9 in handicap hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, soft, 3/1) 37 days ago. Plenty more is needed.

Form: 958-9

Chester Tonik^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 76

20/1

Modest winner at 10f on flat but only ninth of 15 in handicap hurdle (80/1) at Taunton (19f, good to soft) 49 days ago. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 6P-789

Just Aidan⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: H Dickin| OR: 75

12/1

Poor maiden hurdler who came in only seventh of 11 in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, soft, 14/1) 45 days ago. Back down in trip with work to do.

Form: 6536-87

Mr Zee^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Rex Dingle| T: M Blake| OR: 75

16/1

Multiple Flat winner who comes here in decent nick over hurdles, fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Leicester (15.5f, heavy, 7/1) 42 days ago. Holds solid claims.

Form: 2-4P464

No Guarantee^p,t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: Cynthia Woods| OR: 65

150/1

Remains with little form over hurdles, well-beaten fourth in handicap at Fontwell (17.7f, soft) 22 days ago. 9 lb out of the handicap too.

Form: 8-PP074

Non-Runners

Rapid Mission⁶⁰

Weight: 10-2| Age: 4

T: Anthony Charlton J: Dylan Johnston

Forecasts

Dirty Den (3/1), John Betjeman (6/1), Mairis Icon (15/2), Siam Park (8/1), Another Fine Mess (17/2), Strong Belle (10/1), St Lukes Chelsea (11/1), Just Aidan (12/1), Mr Zee (16/1), Rapid Mission (16/1), Je Suis Sacre (18/1), Chester Tonik (20/1), Odin's Quest (22/1), Chicago Storm (25/1), Basman Palace (33/1), Cawthorne Banker (40/1), Belle Montrose (66/1), No Guarantee (150/1)

This could go the way of ST LUKES CHELSEA who travelled well when runner-up at Fontwell last time out and can build on it now sent into handicap company for the first time. Dirty Den is feared most off a handy-looking mark, although Mr Zee, John Betjeman and Another Fine Mess all warrant plenty of respect too in a very open contest.