17:10 Perth

Thursday 25 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:3517:10

Fonab Castle Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 4m 58.55s

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Selected odds by:

Paint The Dream^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

4/1

Consistent since introduced to hurdles and was keeping on when finishing just over 2L second to That's A Given at Wincanton (2m5f, good) three-weeks ago; riders 7lb claim helpful; chance.

Form: F-74352

Subcontinent¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119| C

6/1

10L winner of a 2m maiden hurdle here (good) in May 2018; kicked off this season reasonably well (with cut underfoot); not so productive since.

Form: 132480

Putting Green^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 116

7/1

Still a maiden over hurdles (0-10), albeit more than a shade unlucky at Wetherby (2m3f+) on Boxing Day; beaten 6L by Smarty Wild at Taunton (2m3f) 45-days ago.

Form: 24/82P2

Touchedbyanangel³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 116| BF

28/1

Progressing well in the summer of 2018 for Andrew Oliver (a three-time winner on good ground; 2m-2m3f); lost his place from mid-race and pulled up on stable debut (4/1f) at Kelso last month.

Form: 81131P

Massini Man¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 116

12/1

Winner on hurdles debut at Hereford (2m, good) in November 2018, but that form doesn't really stack up; behind most of the way when a never nearer fifth at Warwick (2m5f) latest; dropped another 3lb.

Form: 6-14P05

Instant Replay^p⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 115

22/1

Seemingly more effective over fences (3-9) than over hurdles (0-5), but could feasibly make the most of a 7lb lower mark over timber; ridden clear by Brian Hughes to score by 7L at Sedgefield (2m3f) in January 2019.

Form: 082215

Defi Sacre^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: R Hobson| OR: 114

5/1

Ex-French; broadly consistent over hurdles for Richard Hobson and the handicapper is taking a slight risk edging him a fraction more in the weights; ran better than the finishing positions imply in a stronger race at Uttoxeter (2m4f) 26-days ago.

Form: 15-3558

Hitman Fred^p1¹⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 110

22/1

Getaway gelding who cost £90,000; will "come into his own" over fences next season according to his trainer; retains potential on handicap debut (wears first-time cheekpieces); stable have saddled very few runners over the past 8-10 weeks (virus).

Form: 125-735

Rizzardo²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 110

10/1

Lightly-raced Tikkanen gelding - brother to the PTP winner Steel's Cotton; eye-catching second on handicap debut at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) last month; up 2lb with Sam Twiston-Davies taking over in the saddle.

Form: 5/7P-562

Great Vizier^b,t⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 115

16/1

Placed on the Flat (7f) for Eve Johnson Houghton, and bred for stamina (by the Derby winner Sir Percy); hasn't torn up any trees over hurdles just yet (0-4), but it remains early days and the market can guide.

Form: 7097

Amberose³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 105

10/1

Off the mark at the sixth-time of asking when beating Lady Samback by ¾L at Carlisle (2m1f, mares' handicap) last month; subsequent 6lb rise looks fair; will be suited by overnight rain (mixed forecast).

Form: 685261

Not The Chablis³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 102

14/1

Northern Irish bumper winner (Down Royal); should find his level over hurdles sooner or later (0-4) and a step up in trip can bring about minor improvement; unlikely winner today nevertheless.

Form: 314634

Farocco^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 102

16/1

11-race hurdles maiden; runner up over C&D in July 2018 (novices'); very minimal improvement (if any) for wind surgery or cheekpieces; not likely.

Form: 4P7675

Non-Runners

Imperial Elixir¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Mr S A Morgan

Forecasts

Paint The Dream (4/1), Defi Sacre (5/1), Subcontinent (6/1), Putting Green (7/1), Amberose (10/1), Rizzardo (10/1), Massini Man (12/1), Imperial Elixir (12/1), Not The Chablis (14/1), Great Vizier (16/1), Farocco (16/1), Instant Replay (22/1), Hitman Fred (22/1), Touchedbyanangel (28/1)

An open finale in which plenty can be considered, namely the likes of Paint The Dream, Putting Green and the Carlisle winner Amberose who would be suited by any overnight/mid-afternoon rain (forecast is mixed). The lightly-raced Rizzardo will also be popular amongst punters after an eye-catching run at Market Rasen (2m7f), and with Sam Twiston-Davies taking over in the saddle. Therefore, in pursuit of some value a realistic alternative is the Richard Hobson-trained DEFI SACRE who shaped better than the bare finishing positions over this trip at Uttoxeter 26-days ago.