16:15 Warwick

Thursday 25 April 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:4517:2017:55

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 59.25s

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Selected odds by:

Constantine Bay⁷⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 140| BF

6/1

Top class novice hurdler back in 2017, close fourth to The World's End in Grade 1 contest at Aintree when last seen, but has been off since and now a question mark as to what ability remains for new trainer. Market best guide.

Form: 111144/

Skipthecuddles^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 139

8/1

Back over hurdles after a couple of moderate efforts in big staying chases recently, stays well and on a fair mark if confidence hasn't been affected but even over hurdles, technique not always the best. Risky but capable.

Form: F-451UP

Barney Dwan^p⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138

6/1

Another for whom it's simply not happened over fences and this quality handicap hurdler now returns to this sphere on a good looking mark. Had a small break and has chances if he can be coaxed back to former glories.

Form: 4F-5336

Nestor Park¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 136| C

3/1

Ready winner at Newcastle two starts back and runner-up has franked that form with a good run since, pulled up sharply after making a mid-race error at Aintree last time and if none the worse for that, has chances here.

Form: 0-6171P

Robin The Raven^p,t³¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 135| BF

7/1

Two starts over fences last year did not show him in a good light, and he will appreciate this return to hurdles. Looked to have a future when successful at Ludlow but that was back in 2017 and what ability remains is open to question now.

Form: 13F1-3F

Potters Hedger^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 122| BF| D

7/2

Stays this trip and has turned in two decent efforts in this grade in his last two starts, but equally he does look like he's just about handicapped to the hilt at present. Should run his race and has place chances, and a bit of rain would help.

Form: 151743

Max Forte^p⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: C J Down| OR: 112WS

17/2

Occasionally produces a good effort in better company than he meets today but hasn't been in any great form and hopes pinned on a wind operation to turn his fortunes around now. Not without hope if it does, but that's a risk.

Form: 508768

Non-Runners

Over To Sam⁸⁰⁴

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: H Fry J: J J Burke

Ocean Cove⁴⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Max Kendrick

Bobo Mac⁵¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: T Symonds J: James Nixon

Forecasts

Nestor Park (3/1), Potters Hedger (7/2), Ocean Cove (4/1), Barney Dwan (6/1), Constantine Bay (6/1), Over To Sam (13/2), Robin The Raven (7/1), Skipthecuddles (8/1), Max Forte (17/2), Bobo Mac (10/1)

There's quality on show with the likes of Constantine Bay, Barney Dwan and quite possibly the unexposed Over To Sam, but what ability remains with them is open to question. If any of them are fit and well after absences they would be a danger, but it may pay to stick with recent form and on that, NESTOR PARK gets the vote. His Newcastle win was given a boost when runner-up Arthur Mac ran well in the Grade 1 novice stayers contest at Aintree and he's clearly none the worse for his Aintree mishap. Bobo Mac has chances of repeating last year's win in this, especially if there's a drop of rain around. Ocean Cove and Potters Hedger would appreciate rain too.