16:22 Wetherby

Tuesday 17 March 2026

All14:0214:3715:1215:4716:2216:55

racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 6m 4.25s

Imperial Merlin^p⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 120| D

16/1

Fairly useful hurdler who clearly wasn't right at Warwick on January, left behind in the straight and pulled up. Given time to recover from that and he's now dipped below his last winning mark with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 42745P

Kapal Layar^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 120

11/2

Won back-to-back races last season but has made an underwhelming start to this campaign, including post breathing operation when pulled up with headgear fitted at Newbury last month.

Form: 211-09P

Into The Park^b1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120

9/1

Pulled up on chase debut in January but put that behind him (without being at best) when third of 7 in 2m Taunton handicap hurdle last month. Shade disappointing that he didn't build on that at Catterick since and blinkers now replace cheekpieces.

Form: 9-24P34

Heart Over Head^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 119

12/1

Closely related to the same connections' useful Alaphilippe and readily off the mark in 4-runner handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter. Followed up in good style at Market Rasen (23.1f) and perhaps best to excuse latest Ascot run in a better race, on the back foot after an early mistake.

Form: 473110

Hawthorn Street³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 114| D

11/4

£155,000 point winner from the family of Irish National winner Thunder And Roses. Confirmed debut promise at the second attempt when landing 7-runner maiden at Catterick last time by ¾ length from Solid Performer. Should have even more to offer for yard going pretty well now.

Form: P1/4-41

Dramatic License¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 113

150/1

Off the mark in 6-runner maiden hurdle at Downpatrick (21.8f, good to firm) in August. Fared as well as could be expected in listed company 2 months later on final start for Stuart Crawford. Mark looks on the high side.

Form: 4-34715

Tiger Orchid^p²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 112| D

9/1

Three-time winner over fences at Worcester but he's not the most fluent of jumpers and losing run is mounting up. Did make a positive start for Stuart Edmunds when second at Hereford and he figures on a tempting hurdles mark.

Form: 62F442

Buzz Iceclear⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 111| BF| CD

9/2

Won first 2 handicaps (second one over C&D) prior to an excellent third of 9 off a 10 lb higher mark at Ascot in December. Fitted with cheekpieces and failed to continue the good work at Ayr in January.

Form: 67-1138

Ladronne^t¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Oscar Palmer⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 110| CD

11/2

Managed to win 4 handicaps over fences since February 2025 despite his advancing years. Really good second at Doncaster 18 days ago and has a fine record here, but hard to know what he's capable of over hurdles these days.

Form: 612412

Rioja Alta^b⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 103

14/1

Better than ever when notching second victory of 2025 at Cartmel in July. Confirmed stamina for 25.3f when third at Catterick in January and he can remain competitive.

Form: 2-31763

Non-Runners

Libre De Choeur²⁵

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: C Boultbee-Brooks J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Hawthorn Street (11/4), Libre De Choeur (4/1), Buzz Iceclear (9/2), Ladronne (11/2), Kapal Layar (11/2), Tiger Orchid (9/1), Into The Park (9/1), Heart Over Head (12/1), Rioja Alta (14/1), Imperial Merlin (16/1), Dramatic License (150/1)

HAWTHORN STREET advanced his form when making his third start over hurdles a winning one at Catterick a month ago. The second that day would have paid a handsome compliment to that form had he stood up at Haydock last time and there's a good case for him from a handicapping perspective. Libre de Choeur and Tiger Orchid head the dangers.