15:45 Wincanton

Saturday 6 January 2018

All13:0513:4014:1014:4015:1515:45

Smarkets Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 51.91s

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Selected odds by:

Taj Badalandabad^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Michael Heard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 132

9/1

Has a very pleasing strike-rate overall but last couple of efforts haven't been overly impressive and he may be better over further these days.

Form: 7141/9-7

Bryden Boy^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 131

25/1

Useful performer on his day but his last three runs have been particularly poor (beaten 50L twice and then 26L), and he needs to bounce back in a major way from those efforts.

Form: 1415-54

Zeroeshadesofgrey^b1⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N B King| OR: 129| D

16/1

Hasn't won over a middle distance (over either fences or hurdles) since September 2014, and is almost certainly better over further these days. Poor form in general last year and blinkers are applied.

Form: 723P-56

Mon Palois³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 126

7/1

Hasn't looked like he stays 3m on his last two attempts at that trip, so this step back is a welcome change. Undefeated over shorter trips over hurdles and could add to that tally here.

Form: 14-1144

Winning Spark²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 123

16/1

Useful performer on his day, especially in middle-distance hurdles, and is versatile in terms of the ground. Not without a chance even if this handicap mark is higher than ideal for him.

Form: 1436-24

Monbeg Theatre^p1,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 123| D

7/1

Has had an interrupted career over the past couple of seasons but ran well in second at Bangor last time and holds claims in first-time cheekpieces if dropping down in trip doesn't prove to be an issue.

Form: 0PU3/F2

Head To The Stars²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 122| D

8/1

Winner of a novice hurdle over a similar trip just over a year ago but unproven on the ground and form in handicaps so far in hardly the most encouraging.

Form: 7124-65

Waterloo Warrior^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117

12/1

Yet to get off the mark but has finished second in no fewer than five of his 11 races. Seems to have plenty of stamina though so this trip may be on the sharp side.

Form: P2-422P

Ballyheigue Bay^t³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 114

20/1

Trip versatile and hinted at a return to form at Lingfield on his return from a break. Now back to his highest winning handicap mark over hurdles and so clearly has a chance on his best form.

Form: 4017-73

Lagavara³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 111| D

13/2

Two good efforts so far this campaign including a win at Leicester last time out. Up 6lb now but could improve further and should handle conditions well.

Form: 3304-31

Edvardo⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: M G Nolan| T: R Woollacott| OR: 107| D

4/1

Won a few similar races to this when trained in Ireland and made an encouraging debut for this yard at Exeter last time out. Up 4lb but entitled to improve for the step back up in trip.

Form: 20/760-2

Daytime Ahead³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Ned Curtis⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Hodges| OR: 102| BF| C

8/1

In good form lately including a very close second to Lagavara at Leicester last time, but is actually worse off at the weights now and so difficult to see her reversing that form.

Form: 164-412

Non-Runners

Dubawi Island⁴⁴

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: Miss V Williams J: Miss Lucy Turner

Forecasts

Edvardo (4/1), Lagavara (13/2), Mon Palois (7/1), Monbeg Theatre (7/1), Head To The Stars (8/1), Daytime Ahead (8/1), Taj Badalandabad (9/1), Waterloo Warrior (12/1), Zeroeshadesofgrey (16/1), Dubawi Island (16/1), Winning Spark (16/1), Ballyheigue Bay (20/1), Bryden Boy (25/1)

A competitive enough affair, where the suggestion is LAGAVARA. She may have been raised 6lb for winning at Leicester last time but the front two were clear on that occasion and she should enjoy conditions here. Given her age there's every chance she could improve again and may in time prove to be a fair bit better than her current mark of 111. The horse she beat there Daytime Ahead is also of interest, though she's actually worse off at the weights now due to winning on her penultimate start, so the main danger instead looks to be Edvardo, who may improve for the return to this trip.