16:15 Stratford

Saturday 30 March 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Happy Birthday Sarah Kelly Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 32.2s

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Selected odds by:

Bomber's Moon^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 100

9/1

Best effort when stepped up to 3m at Doncaster in November off a 4lb higher mark. Excuses for two moderate runs since, failing to get a positive ride over a shorter trip next time; needed run last time out; faces easiest handicap task yet.

Form: 9-09377

Black Lightning^p⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 99

14/1

Bumper form was fair (placed on three occasions) but failed to progress over hurdles including on his handicap debut last time. Eased 5lb from that opening mark of 104 but still looks to have a stiff task based on his hurdling form so far.

Form: 3-35067

Aquarian^b²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 99

6/1

Dropped to a lowly mark when successful on his third start for this yard; appeared to appreciate the good ground. Two subsequent starts have taken place on slightly softer ground; dropped 2lb from last time, also back 5f in trip, blinkers back on.

Form: 574153

Stonemadforspeed^p²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 98

16/1

Enigmatic sort who showed a more determined mood than usual when taking a Taunton (2m3f, good) selling hurdle on his penultimate start. Merely highlighted his inconsistency with a tame display last time; pulled up, one to treat with caution.

Form: 30721P

Cotton Club⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 97

33/1

One of a rare breed who failed to make the grade with Dr Richard Newland over hurdles (proved expensive to follow; beaten favourite four times). Failed to show anything better for his current handler in a variety of disciplines.

Form: 254409

Can You Believe It²⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 96

9/1

Plenty of winning jumping relations in his pedigree to offer some encouragement that going into handicaps may offer more than he's shown so far. Returns from a break; market may offer more clues to his chance in this.

Form: 848

Our Rockstar³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 94

12/1

Very little to shout about from her bumper runs but there were signs that she could have more to offer over hurdles. Hard to think that she was suited by the 2m trips she's run over the last twice; return to further/handicaps offer some positives.

Form: 00730

Sandy Boy¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 94

7/2

Was proving to be a much better proposition in handicaps before crashing out of contention on his debut in that sphere. Failed to complete again last time but remains with potential especially over staying trips if brushing up his jumping.

Form: 070FU

Exotic Friend^t1⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 93WS

33/1

Offered little of late off the back of two long absences and hopes now pinned on a recent wind op. Tongue-tie now on for the first time and well weighted on his old form were he to come back to life.

Form: P01/P-0P

Little Rich^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 100

14/1

Progress has been gradual rather than progressive with his novice form suggesting that he would be better in handicaps. Beaten in a match last time at Fontwell but may appreciate this better surface going handicapping for the first time.

Form: 7432

Hahadi²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: David Dennis| OR: 91

5/1

Irish point-to-point winner who showed some promise in novice hurdles (form rather patchy) on a variety of surfaces. Hard to crab his debut handicap effort at Southwell (3m, good) finished midfield; mark still looks a testing one.

Form: 1P6P65

Incertaine²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Johns| T: T R Gretton| OR: 90

40/1

Eased 5lb from her initial handicap mark after a first attempt in handicaps that failed to offer much encouragement; jumped with little fluency and finished well held. Upped slightly in trip and eased in grade but still makes limited appeal.

Form: 6906

Cintex^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 89

16/1

Yet to win over any obstacles and now returned to hurdles having failed to match his modest hurdles form over fences. Reportedly had a recent wind op but would need to show more than of late even in this basement grade to get involved.

Form: 2P34P6

Snazz Man¹⁰⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 89| D

9/1

Previous form got left well behind when he took a Fontwell handicap last May looking well ahead of his lowly mark. Not seen again for seven months (shaped as if amiss) in very different conditions; may appreciate being back on a decent surface.

Form: 8P57-1P

Non-Runners

Realt Or³²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: F Brennan J: Dave Crosse

Blue Rhythm¹²

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: Andrew Tinkler

Forecasts

Sandy Boy (7/2), Hahadi (5/1), Aquarian (6/1), Bomber's Moon (9/1), Can You Believe It (9/1), Snazz Man (9/1), Blue Rhythm (10/1), Our Rockstar (12/1), Little Rich (14/1), Black Lightning (14/1), Cintex (16/1), Stonemadforspeed (16/1), Realt Or (16/1), Exotic Friend (33/1), Cotton Club (33/1), Incertaine (40/1)

A whole host of contenders to consider here in a wide open event where a return to a better surface may well see a few return to form. Sandy Boy despite his last two mishaps still looks a well handicapped sort if he can maintain his balance this time around. Aquarian is one who will appreciate a return to better ground and a shorter trip, with Snazz Man and Little Rich two others that have shown more on a sounder surface. Bomber’s Moon finds himself in this grade for the first time and he can’t be ignored but the suggestion is OUR ROCKSTAR with fact that she now goes handicapping over a trip that will suit a major positive.