16:30 Stratford

Saturday 1 April 2017

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Bordeaux Undiscovered Best Claret Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 23.6s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Badbad Leroy Brown^t⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr Robert Hawker⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 99

6/1

Point-to-point winner cam good at the first time of asking in handicaps, beating It's Oscar with a bit to spare at Hereford this week. That wasn't much of a race but neither is this, so obvious claims of following up under a penalty, with the step up in trip likely to suit.

Form: 13-

Zephyr²⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 102

33/1

No win in 15 starts over hurdles and there wasn't much to shout about when last seen, a second at Plumpton the highlight amongst some otherwise poor efforts. Off since last July and little to recommend at present, although the break may have done him some good.

Form: 6P2/PP4-

Le Braye¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 100

4/1

Not a bad effort in a decent race at Ludlow two starts back, and he travelled like the best horse at Sedgefield last time only to find less than expected. That form is working out however, so despite a big step up in trip here, which asks a new question, can't be discounted.

Form: 08530F-

North Hill^h⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100

10/3

Well backed in the week for a similar event at Southwell, and although yet to be asked for full effort had plenty of ground to make up when falling three out. Quick reappearance suggests he's none the worse for that, and requires monitoring in the market again, as he'd shown some form before that.

Form: 2/60F1-1

Turbo Du Ranch¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J Pearce⁽⁷⁾| T: D C O'Brien| OR: 97

150/1

Recent reappearance after four years off the track didn't suggest he was about to hit form anytime soon, and although well handicapped on historic form looks an unlikely winner.

Form: 7534/0U

Viking Mistress^p1,t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 97

10/1

Has threatened to win a race a couple of times now, latest being when second to Avithos at Taunton (good ground, 3m, stayed on well) and perhaps the cheekpieces tried today will prove the catalyst. One of the more likely ones, with yard appearing to be coming back to form.

Form: 69/59-3F

Cheltenam De Vaige²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mark Wall| OR: 96

8/1

Has improved for going handicapping, finishing third on both starts and looking like this step up in trip would suit today. Different ground conditions to deal with (both those efforts on heavy) but other than that, holds a solid chance again.

Form: 30-798

Flower Ball^b1⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: H Whittington| OR: 94

16/1

Goes handicapping on a basement mark and gets some headgear for the first time, but in truth simply hasn't shown enough to make her of interest and the yard are very quiet at present.

Form: P-306

Change Or Go^p1,t1³⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 90

33/1

Another going handicapping for the first time, but hasn't been seen out since finishing well beaten at Ludlow last April. Done little to suggest he's capable of winning this, but good jockey booking, step up in trip and first time tongue tie/blinkers all make him interesting. Worth a market check at least.

Form: 0P0-

Pearlita^b1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jake Greenall| T: H D Daly| OR: 89

33/1

Well bred but she's simply not shown enough in five starts to suggest she can take advantage of her opening mark, and another yard that are struggling for winners too.

Form: 0P5P5-1

Bel Esprit³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: R Stephens| OR: 88

16/1

Did a little better for going handicapping last time out, and may well improve again, but has plenty of ground to make up on Viking Mistress on that run and although she may get closer, hard to see her turning the form around completely.

Form: 67/0462-

Silent Man²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: N P Madden| T: T H Weston| OR: 88

33/1

Only piece of form came in an Irish point-to-point back in January last year, and although the yard do well with those types this one looks an unlikely winner as he shown little to date.

Form: 80P06-1

Bostin¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: D C O'Brien| OR: 87

20/1

Third at Plumpton on his latest start his best effort for a while, but was still beaten almost fifteen lengths there and the handicapper wasn't impressed, dropping him another 3lb. Can't really be entertained until showing a bit more.

Form: 074371-

Autum Rain²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: C Poste| T: T H Weston| OR: 87

28/1

Placed in a couple of Irish point-to-points, so has a bit of ability but hasn't shown much of it to date, although hinted at the possibility of better to come at Hereford last time. Market requires a check, with the step up in trip likely to suit.

Form: 42037

Goodnight Charlie^v¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: T Scudamore| T: C Fryer| OR: 85

6/1

Came good at the eighth attempt (at Towcester) after showing a bit of ability the time before, the application of headgear seeming to do the trick. Different track to contend with here, and likely quicker ground too, but at least comes here in some form, which is more than most do.

Form: 9P318-1

Non-Runners

Annie'sboydave¹⁰²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: P A Pritchard J: Charlie Deutsch

Forecasts

North Hill (10/3), Le Braye (4/1), Badbad Leroy Brown (6/1), Goodnight Charlie (6/1), Cheltenam De Vaige (8/1), Viking Mistress (10/1), Bel Esprit (16/1), Flower Ball (16/1), Bostin (20/1), Autum Rain (28/1), Zephyr (33/1), Pearlita (33/1), Silent Man (33/1), Change Or Go (33/1), Annie'sboydave (100/1), Turbo Du Ranch (150/1)

Quantity rather than quality here. Robert Hawker takes a useful 7lb off BADBAD LEROY BROWN which will help with his big weight and now he's got the winning habit may well be able to follow up, as this longer trip promises to eke out a bit more improvement in him. Better was expected from North Hill in the week and although it's hard to pin down where he would have finished, a placing looked on the cards, which gives him every chance here. Le Braye will be a huge danger if getting the trip too, but this is a big step up in trip. Autum Rain and Change Or Go both need a check in the market, as money for either would make them interesting in such a weak event.