15:20 Wetherby

Friday 27 March 2026

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:22

Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 5f 56y | 18 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁵⁾| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 122

Useful on his day for Nicky Henderson and took a step back in the right direction with cheekpieces enlisted for the first time at Ascot last month, finishing fifth of 15 in a Class 2 handicap. However, it's otherwise been a struggle for present connections and he misfired at Sandown last time.

Form: P09050

Freshers Week²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117| D

14/1

Successful sole start in Irish points and followed up on Rules/hurdles debut at Market Rasen in October. Put in a good shift when third behind a progressive pair upped to around 3m at Haydock on recent handicap bow and this drop back in trip looks a good move.

Form: 1-1233

Dunkerque³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 116

12/1

Maiden hurdle winner last summer for Gavin Cromwell and similar form in defeat since, clear of the rest when chasing home the odds-on winner on second run for present yard in a 2½m Sedgefield novice. Will need to find something extra if he's to get back on the scoresheet here, though.

Form: 014552

King Of The Road^p⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 115

11/1

Won over 19f at Taunton last November and back on track in first-time cheekpieces when second of 10 in a Kempton handicap (21f) on Boxing Day. Wasn't in the same form with the headgear omitted next time but cheekpieces return here and he's one to consider. Yard also runs Duel Au Soleil.

Form: 6-43029

Duel Au Soleil^t,p⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 115| CD

12/1

Runner-up in back-to-back Stratford novices last summer and went one better in first-time cheekpieces on return/handicap debut over C&D in October. Just lost out to a subsequent winner at Ascot on latest start in December and will be a threat if ready to roll following a break.

Form: 522132

Bras D'or^t1⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 114

9/2

Runner-up sole start in bumpers and has shown promise in 3 runs in maiden/novice company, most recently finishing third of 10 at Ayr in January. That form is good (second, fourth and fifth have all won since) and he's of strong interest upped in trip (first-time tongue tie) for this handicap bow.

Form: P22-523

Ionian¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 114

7/1

Has been placed twice from 4 starts in this sphere, giving it a good shot from the front when third in a 10-runner Warwick novice (2m, good to soft) 19 days ago. This trip will probably be within his range and possibilities now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 6-6243

Daylatedollarshort⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 114| CD

13/2

Successful sole start in Irish points and made it third time lucky over hurdles when narrowly prevailing on handicap bow over C&D on Boxing Day. Impressed with his willingness on that occasion and there should be better to come.

Form: 1241

Miss Cynthia⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 114| D

11/2

Useful stayer on Flat for Sir Mark Prescott and scored over hurdles for Lucy Wadham last term. Fortunate winner on second run for this yard at Fakenham (2½m, soft) in January (left clear at the final flight) but she merits respect nonetheless having gone up just 1 lb.

Form: 212P-71

Dirty Den^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 113| D

16/1

Got his head back in front with a decisive display at Plumpton. Wasn't seen to best effect in a race where nothing really got involved from behind at Wincanton last time but others make more appeal here all the same.

Form: 228317

Jhentong Enki⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 112| D

7/1

Point winner who showed clear signs of ability over hurdles for Paul Nolan in Ireland. Very much on the up for new yard this season, leaving disappointing reappearance well behind with back-to-back victories in handicaps at Lingfield and Leicester, and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 5-F8011

Assertive Walk²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112

16/1

Displayed promise amidst greenness first 2 starts over hurdles but improvement wasn't forthcoming on handicap bow at Ayr 3 weeks ago.

Form: 3-236

Just Call Me Lucy²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 109| C

8/1

Enhanced her good course record when notching second win over 2½m here in a mares handicap last time (placed in her 2 additional starts at this course). 5 lb rise fair enough and it's not hard to envisage this 8-y-o giving another good account of herself.

Form: 2P-4251

Keno Black^h⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 108

10/1

Placed in an Irish point and left first 3 runs in maiden hurdles miles behind when winning one equipped with a first-time hood at Lingfield (2m, heavy) last month, landing a gamble in the process. Shapes as though moving up in trip for this handicap debut will be in his favour.

Form: F3-6091

Mandarb^h¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 107

7/1

Fair ex-French Flat winner who was much improved on his handicap hurdle debut when scoring readily at Doncaster in November. Absent since and now finds himself 12 lb higher in a stronger race but he's remains unexposed in this sphere.

Form: 65-71

Forest Blaze^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Maggs⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 102

25/1

Generally reliable and bagged a couple of 2½m handicaps at Hexham last season. Placed on a few occasions this time round but latest effort at Ayr wasn't one of his better ones and some of the others could prove to be better treated. Visored the last twice but cheekpieces now refitted.

Form: 4-52325

Celestial Reign^t,p³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

80/1

Won maiden at Sedgefield last spring but hasn't troubled the judge since switched to handicaps in this sphere, going in snatches when well held at Carlisle last time.

Form: 4-12460

Non-Runners

Speakasyoufind⁷¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Miss Cynthia (6/1), Bras D'or (13/2), Jhentong Enki (7/1), Ionian (7/1), Daylatedollarshort (8/1), Mandarb (8/1), Keno Black (10/1), King Of The Road (12/1), Just Call Me Lucy (12/1), Duel Au Soleil (12/1), No Ordinary Joe (16/1), Dunkerque (20/1), Dirty Den (20/1), Freshers Week (25/1), Forest Blaze (25/1), Assertive Walk (25/1), Speakasyoufind (33/1), Celestial Reign (50/1)

The testing conditions were perhaps against BRAS D'OR at Ayr but he still performed with credit in a race that is working out well and better is expected now he goes handicapping upped markedly in trip. Just Call Me Lucy enhanced her good record at this course last month and she looks pretty solid, while Mandarb is third choice ahead of a clutch of similarly unexposed types, namely Daylatedollarshort, Ionian and Keno Black. The hat-trick seeking Jhentong Enki also enters calculations.