12:20 Wincanton

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Simple Landlords Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:22 | Winning time: 3m 53.4s

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Selected odds by:

Lightly Squeeze³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 110| BF

11/8

Handled testing ground well on the Flat but yet to score in seven attempts so far over timber. Finished third in this race 12 months ago off a 2lb lower mark but has been beaten favourite on last four starts so is becoming expensive to follow.

Form: 44/43-23

The Raven's Return²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 109

7/1

Romped home at Fontwell in May in 2m5f maiden hurdle and not disgraced in two starts this term since returning from summer break. Ran better than finishing position suggests at Sandown latest and off 2lb lower may not be far away.

Form: P7-4146

Perfect Myth⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 108

20/1

13-race maiden but ran some fair races for previous handler without managing to trouble the judge. Faded late on debut for current yard at Stratford in October but poor effort latest. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 0343-58

Never Learn^t⁴²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 106

12/1

Top yard has plenty of winners here. Failed to score in first 13 starts but has got his act together with two wins at Fontwell; one in May (3m2f) and another in October (2m5f). 3lb higher than latest success but drops back now to minimum trip.

Form: 2432/11-

Sparky Valentine^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 102

14/1

Fairly unexposed filly who made promising start last term when thrid in Newbury bumper. Hasn't cut too much ice in three runs this campaign but is quite interesting on handicap bow with first-time tongue-tie applied.

Form: 38-653

Nineohtwooneoh^t1²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 96

5/2

Fame And Glory gelding wears first-time tongue-tie having shown only modest form in four starts so far. Hails from yard of champion trainer though and may do better now handicapping for the first time.

Form: 8057-

Vanderbilt³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 95

7/1

Plenty of placed efforts both on the Flat and over jumps but remains a maiden after 36 starts in total. Should have come on for seasonal reappearance here last month when fair fourth and runs off 2lb lower mark now.

Form: 04-4234

Greenview Paradise³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 94

33/1

Dual 1m6f Flat winner but appears to have surprisingly struggled to get home over 2m over hurdles so far. Eased 3lb following poor handicap bow over C&D last time and others make much more appeal.

Form: 9-686

Fethard Flyer^h¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 93

40/1

Showed little in four starts in Ireland for previous handler. Pulled up on British debut for current yard but ran much better last time, leading until weakening approaching last when sixth at Plumpton. More needed but not completely out of this.

Form: 080-FP6

Niamh's Oscar^h1⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: J D Frost| OR: 83

50/1

Tailed off all three starts so far under Rules and races from 1lb wrong at the weights here on handicap debut. Very hard to enthuse over and needs to turn over a new leaf to figure.

Form: 772-600

Non-Runners

Motashakel⁴⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: Evan Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Lightly Squeeze (11/8), Nineohtwooneoh (5/2), The Raven's Return (7/1), Vanderbilt (7/1), Motashakel (7/1), Never Learn (12/1), Sparky Valentine (14/1), Perfect Myth (20/1), Greenview Paradise (33/1), Fethard Flyer (40/1), Niamh's Oscar (50/1)

Plenty of these have questions to answer but THE RAVEN'S RETURN ran fairly well at Sandown earlier this month on handicap bow and off a 2lb lower mark has more going for him than most in this event. Top weight Lightly Squeeze seems to have the ability to win but has been a costly failure on his last four starts and carries a wealth warning. Both Nineohtwooneoh and hat-trick seeking Never Learn represent top yards and have to be respected, while Sparky Valentine is open to improvement and is another worthy of consideration.