14:05 Wetherby

Thursday 23 January 2025

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 25.3s

Balking⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 100WS

25/1

Showed ability when fourth only start in bumpers and there have been signs of encouragement over hurdles, albeit without suggesting that he'll be up to making a winning handicap debut off this mark. Has undergone a wind op since latest start.

Form: 4-059

Manowest⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan| T: O Murphy| OR: 100

12/1

Winning pointer and shaped pretty well in a trio of maiden hurdles last summer. Hasn't kicked on since venturing down the handicap route but his mark is on the slide as a result and he represents an up-and-coming yard in fine form.

Form: 253044

Maxiboy Dagrostis⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: R Hobson| OR: 100

11/2

Placed both starts between the flags and posted much his best effort yet under Rules when a 66/1-third of 8 in novice hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, good to soft) last time. Needs considering now going into handicaps.

Form: 3-2073

Pottersjetamay^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: M Crawley| OR: 99

12/1

Signs of ability in maiden/novice hurdles for Charlie Longsdon last spring and left his handicap/yard debut form well behind when finding just one too good at Southwell (20.4f, good to soft) in December. 2 lb rise fair enough and should be in the mix if able to build on that.

Form: 033-652

Elle Est Beau^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 97| BF

17/2

Maiden who looked set to win when falling at the last at Sandown last January and reappearance second in first-time cheekpieces at Southwell (20.4f, good) was a creditable effort. However, she proved disappointing when sent off favourite (not for the first time) at Warwick subsequently.

Form: 3F66-24

Forest Blaze⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 96| D

9/4

Improved for step up to 2½m when making second handicap start a winning one at Hexham last month. 6 lb rise easy to swallow and this 6-y-o is high on the shortlist with further progress entirely possible.

Form: 40-5931

Dublin To Milan⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 95

14/1

Hasn't cut much ice 4 novice hurdles at around 2m but he appeals as the type to do better now moving up in trip for this handicap debut. Interesting to see how he shapes up in the betting.

Form: 4/4-U770

Good Bye^b²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: Sara Ender| OR: 94

66/1

Proved a model of consistency during 2022/23 campaign for this yard but hasn't shown much spark in 4 starts since returning from a 17-month absence in June. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 1/8P7P0

Rioja Alta⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 94

33/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Gavin Cromwell and showed aptitude for hurdling for this yard when placed in novice company last season. Considerately handled and likely needed the run on handicap debut in this sphere following a break in December, so he's worth another chance.

Form: 33-7

Aire Spray³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 92

9/2

Took his form up a notch when making a winning handicap debut upped to 19.3f at Carlisle last month. Has to take a 6 lb rise on the chin but that looks manageable, particularly given that, as a low-mileage 5-y-o, he may well have more to offer.

Form: 42F3-81

Montana Golden²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 90

20/1

Promising start to his career when second in a Worcester bumper last summer. Hasn't come close to matching that level of form in 3 starts since switched to hurdles but he wouldn't be the first from his respected yard to take a significant step forward now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 25P68

Ismael^b1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: K Frost| OR: 88| D

18/1

Got the job done at Uttoxeter last January and has slipped back to that winning mark, albeit with good reason having offered little in half-a-dozen subsequent starts (in this sphere and over fences). Hopes now pinned on the first-time blinkers helping to spark a return to form.

Form: 3P-6F5P

Passengerontheship⁴²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 84

28/1

Placed in an Irish point but low-key start under Rules in maiden/novice hurdles during October/November. Big step forward needed now handicapping.

Form: 53879-

Monklaw^t1⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: W Coltherd| OR: 83

100/1

Fell both starts in points and yet to show much over hurdles. Tongue tied now but hard to make a strong case for this 8-y-o on handicap debut.

Form: FF00/0

Gold Ring^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: N Mechie| OR: 82

80/1

Lost his way on the Flat last year and hasn't shown much spark over hurdles so far.

Form: 0608-P

Swift Reply^p1⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 73

14/1

Poor maiden who continues below his best, failing by a long way to match the form of his good Kelso second in October in 3 subsequent appearances. Others preferred.

Form: 072P66

Non-Runners

Lone Star²⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: P A Kirby J: Joe Williamson

Forecasts

Forest Blaze (9/4), Aire Spray (9/2), Maxiboy Dagrostis (11/2), Lone Star (7/1), Elle Est Beau (17/2), Manowest (12/1), Pottersjetamay (12/1), Dublin To Milan (14/1), Swift Reply (14/1), Ismael (18/1), Montana Golden (20/1), Balking (25/1), Passengerontheship (28/1), Rioja Alta (33/1), Good Bye (66/1), Gold Ring (80/1), Monklaw (100/1)

Last-time-out winners FOREST BLAZE and Aire Spray may have more to offer and could be the pair to concentrate on. Marginal preference is for the former, who did the job well enough when opening his account at Hexham to suggest that this 6 lb higher mark should be within reach. Maxiboy Dagrostis and Pottersjetamay should both be on the premises if able to build on their latest efforts, while Montana Golden is a potential improver now that his attention is turned to handicap company.