14:35 Perth

Friday 28 April 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:5017:25

GS Group Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 4m 53.9s

Settings

Selected odds by:

One For Harry⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 138

12/1

A seven times hurdle winner and well suited by this 2m4f trip. A regular in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso (runner up to Top Notch in 2015 and Cyrus Darius in 2016), he's caught between handicaps and graded races. Successful for this rider at Wetherby in January (also won the same race in 2016).

Form: P6-P122

Nuts Well²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 137

5/1

A tough and thoroughly likeable sort who absolutely thrives over the minimum trip at Newcastle. Up 6lb for his latest decisive Gosforth Park success, but will handle this ground better than some although major concerns regarding this trip.

Form: 583221

Maestro Royal^p1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

4/1

Found plenty for pressure to score at Newbury on his latest start. 5lb rise for that is fair and if handling the likely quicker conditions here, holds a solid chance wearing the first-time cheek-pieces. Non-runner at Plumpton on 16th April.

Form: 272171

Arctic Gold⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

5/1

Rear division in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, but beaten only 4½L when third to Political Quiz over this trip at Cheltenham earlier this month. Likely to race near the pace, but the worry is that the handicapper just has his measure.

Form: PU2033-

Jacks Last Hope^v²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: C Grant| OR: 133

16/1

Tailed off and pulled up behind Chesterfield at Aintree earlier this month, but is a three time winner over hurdles including by 16L in a 2m handicap at this track in June 2016. Still 5lb higher than when winning at Wetherby in October 2016 (beat Nuts Well by 2L; similar terms), but certain to handle this decent ground.

Form: 2313P1-

Call The Cops^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 132

40/1

Winner of the Pertemps Series Final at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2015 for Nicky Henderson, but has appeared a shell of that horse since, and refused on his chasing debut at Ffos Las in November 2016. Dropped 16lb since joining this yard, but that's not looked nearly enough and his trainer could be in better form.

Form: 0R8089-

Sky Khan^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 126

9/2

Now 4lb lower than when last successful over hurdles at Market Rasen in November 2015 (won by ½L). Has competed in plenty of big field events over the past 12 months including at Aintree and Punchestown, and might just appreciate this lesser grade closer to home.

Form: 665502-

Fly Vinnie⁸¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 125

22/1

Heavily eased when last in action at Musselburgh in February 2015, so presumably sidelined with a problem since. Handicapper has given him a chance to overcome his troubles, and he's now only 4lb higher than when winning on New Years Day 2015 by 12L. All five starts this side of the Irish Sea have come at Musselburgh.

Form: 31510/0-

Sandymount¹¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 123

7/2

Thrice placed in bumpers (twice for this trainer) and very lightly raced with just two previous starts over hurdles. 2L winner of a Southwell maiden hurdle in December, he finished fourth to Strong Pursuit when next in action in January at Hereford. Off since but a fascinating handicap debutant with the assessor deciding upon an opening mark of 123.

Form: 3/23148-

Solway Dandy⁶⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 120

40/1

First or second in each of his last seven races (all at this track), with 13 of his 19 starts coming here. Off since July 2015, so faces a tough task on his return.

Form: 21122/6-

Non-Runners

Mystifiable¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 9

T: F O'Brien J: Alain Cawley

Forecasts

Sandymount (7/2), Maestro Royal (4/1), Sky Khan (9/2), Arctic Gold (5/1), Nuts Well (5/1), One For Harry (12/1), Mystifiable (12/1), Jacks Last Hope (16/1), Fly Vinnie (22/1), Solway Dandy (40/1), Call The Cops (40/1)

An ultra competitive handicap. Mystifiable could be interesting if turned out quickly by Fergal O'Brien from a fair hurdles mark, whilst the application of first time cheek-pieces for Maestro Royal might be enough to keep him ahead of the handicapper. Nuts Well is a credit to himself but with Newcastle finished until November his trainers hand is forced in coming here over an unsuitable 2m4f. Therefore, a shot in the dark is aimed at SANDYMOUNT, whose opening mark of 123 could prove a generous one. He has plenty of scope to improve over hurdles now going handicapping, and he represents an effective trainer and has the added benefit of having a leading rider aboard.