14:00 Perth

Thursday 16 May 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:15

Brown & Blacks Even Better Times Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 3m 58.1s

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Selected odds by:

Astute Boy^t¹⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 99WS

11/1

Winning 1m4f handicapper on Flat in 2017. Best run over hurdles was a second at Worcester in August when trained by Harry Fry. Not so good since switched to current yard but shaped better until mistake three out las time. Wind surgery since then.

Form: 52488-

Mister Manduro^h1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs A Hamilton

10/1

Best run on Flat was a second over 2m at Ascot in 2017 but not seen in that sphere since April last year. Took strong hold and unseated rider third on hurdling debut at Hexham last week. Now sports a hood for first time.

Form: U

Wilhelm Vonvenster¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| BF

7/2

First foal. Dam won over 1m5f and over hurdles. Sent off 4/6 on Bumper debut at Newcastle in November but green and and only fourth of 10. Clearly thought capable of better and interesting on hurdling debut.

Form: 4-

Zamarkhan^h¹⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 106

5/1

Best effort by some way was a second of seven on good ground at Kelso in October but failed to build on that in handicap when last seen the following month and has to get back on track now.

Form: 0/68427-

Falmouth Light^h1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: I Jardine

10/3

Dual winner on the Flat up to 1m2f and versatile ground wise but lacked fluency with his jumping on hurdling debut here last month and needs to improve in that department. Now hooded.

Form: 7-

Fourth Of July^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 102

25/1

Little form to date in a Bumper and three novice hurdles at big prices and still keen when tried in a hood latest. Needs to find improvement.

Form: 0396-

Gripper²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

33/1

1m6f winner on AW when trained by Ralph Beckett last summer. Bought for 22,000 gns in October but showed little on hurdling debut here last month when last of eight finishers at 50/1 and needs to improve dramatically on that.

Form: 8-

Ventura Dragon²⁰⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

9/4

Three wins on the Flat when with Richard Fahey at up to 1m2f from good to firm to heavy. but regressed in that sphere following Doncaster win in March last year and now goes hurdling for new yard.

Form:

Bermondsey Belle^t⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs J Stephen

80/1

Best Flat run for Lucy Wadham was a second over 1m2f on good ground in July 2017 at Lingfield. Didn't progress from that and having joined current connections for just 1,000 gns was pulled up on hurdling debut following a long absence.

Form: P-

Forecasts

Ventura Dragon (9/4), Falmouth Light (10/3), Wilhelm Vonvenster (7/2), Zamarkhan (5/1), Mister Manduro (10/1), Astute Boy (11/1), Fourth Of July (25/1), Gripper (33/1), Bermondsey Belle (80/1)

The fact that WILHELM VONVENSTER was so strong in the market for his Bumper suggests he must be thought capable of much better than shown on that occasion, and connections have found a weak enough maiden for his debut over hurdles. Astute Boy is probably just the best of those with experience over obstacles and along with one time good Flat winner Ventura Dragon, may give the selection most to do.