13:30 Warwick

Saturday 8 February 2025

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4816:23

racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 51.42s

Kart D'Estruval^t⁹⁹

16/1

Winner in France last March. Disappointing when well beaten at odds of 1/3 on Wetherby stable debut in November. Has undergone wind surgery since and could prove a totally different proposition now.

Form: 31-6

Zambezi Fix²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 118| D

13/2

Tends to save his best for Chepstow, usually ridden patiently and likes a good pace to aim at. Couldn't cash-in on lower chase mark at his favourite venue over Christmas and well held back hurdling at Taunton since.

Form: 1-64346

Jackpot D'athou⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118| D

8/1

Bagged 2 of his first 3 starts over hurdles last term but his handicap career has been disappointing, weakening tamely again at Carlisle when last seen 10 weeks ago. The cheekpieces worn on that occasion are quickly discarded.

Form: 1410-38

Got Grey¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 116| DWS

8/1

A big improver for his new yard, winning 2m handicaps at Stratford and Bangor at the end of the summer. Creditable fourth at Aintree in October. Given a break since, during which time he's had wind surgery.

Form: 411264

Celtic Art^p⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 115| D

4/1

Respectable fourth of 11 at Taunton (19f, good to soft) in November and not discounted having dipped to 2 lb below the mark he defied at Lingfield last season.

Form: 433-854

Sao Carlos^t⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: O Murphy| OR: 112| DWS

10/3

Bumper/hurdle winner. Respectable of 8 in 2m Uttoxeter handicap on reappearance in December. Eased 3 lb on the back of that and could have a big say if reacting positively to a recent wind op.

Form: 1/4147-5

Pozo Emery²³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr S Lee⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 107

10/1

Got off the mark for his current yard in 11-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell (2m) in May. Failed to reproduce that in a hurdle/chase in June and absent since.

Form: 243-145

Casi Crudo²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: A M Hales| OR: 104

13/2

Juvenile hurdle winner in December 2022. Runner-up twice in handicap company in 2023 but never involved on his completed start this winter. Not the easiest to assess at present.

Form: 53/22-0U

Storming Nelson^t1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 102

18/1

Winner of a 17f Exeter novice last January but has offered little in 4 subsequent handicap starts.

Form: 3156-P0

Non-Runners

Maxcel²⁰³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: Mrs M Rowley J: Charlie Hammond

Forecasts

Sao Carlos (10/3), Celtic Art (4/1), Casi Crudo (13/2), Zambezi Fix (13/2), Got Grey (8/1), Jackpot D'athou (8/1), Pozo Emery (10/1), Maxcel (12/1), Kart D'Estruval (16/1), Storming Nelson (18/1)

A chance is taken on SAO CARLOS, who has been given a chance by the handicapper if a wind operation since last seen has had the desired effect. Kart d'Estruval has undergone the same procedure since weakening quickly on his British debut at the beginning of November and he could easily bounce back with a bang, particularly if the betting vibes are strong. Celtic Art also makes the shortlist.