Jumping For Joy On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 23.5s

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Selected odds by:

Ardera Cross^p⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 123| CD

6/1

Always prominent and kept on strongly to beat Monsieur Co by 3¼L over fences here (2m½f, soft) on his penultimate start; stamina ebbed away in a stronger race subsequently; reverts to hurdles 3lb above that 'winning' mark.

Form: 14U014

Ocean Voyage³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 122| D

7/1

Didn't appear to give her true running at Fairyhouse (2m4f, soft) in late November, but there's no reason to believe she won't be competitive here from a fair mark of 114; was an easy 5L winner of a Cork fillies' maiden (2m, soft) in March 2019.

Form: 251-U70

Calix Delafayette^h⁶⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 120| BF| CD

6/1

Lightly-raced (2-4); hacked up (favourite flopped) on return from wind surgery at Kelso (2m2f novices', heavy) in April 2018; turned over at short odds next time and absent since (for 607 days); difficult to assess as a result on handicap debut.

Form: 151/3-

McGowan's Pass³²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 116| CD

15/8

Useful earlier in his career (bumpers/novice hurdles); sole win over timber came when beating Cool Mix by 3½L over C&D (heavy) in December 2017; has eased in the weights for first start in 322 days; trainer in-form at Newcastle (Sat).

Form: 534/U48-

Bulls Head¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 107| C| D

5/2

Ridden out to beat Strong Economy by 6L here (2m4½f, heavy) in February 2018 and is handicapped to go well; in the interim period has clearly lost his way over fences (FPPF); don't discount an improved performance; worth chancing?

Form: 9FPP-F5

Ashjan¹⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 107

25/1

No win since producing a late thrust at Tramore (2m5f, good) in August 2018; has left the care of Elizabeth Doyle since competing over fences (0-4) at Downpatrick (2m2f) in late September; monitoring brief only advised.

Form: 305607

Non-Runners

West Drive²⁵

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: R M Smith J: Dale Irving

Forecasts

McGowan's Pass (15/8), Bulls Head (5/2), Calix Delafayette (6/1), Ardera Cross (6/1), Ocean Voyage (7/1), West Drive (8/1), Ashjan (25/1)

Both Calix Delafayette and Mcgowan's Pass possess plenty of raw ability (as shown in bumpers and novice hurdles), although you'd be taking a chance supporting either on their return from respective 607 & 322 day absences. That said, it should be noted in relation to the latter that the Sandy Thomson runners (Off The Beat, Capard King and Stradivarius Davis) all performed creditably at Newcastle on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ocean Voyage must be feared for the Elliott/Johnson partnership. However, we'll elect to take a slight chance on the feasibly handicapped heavy ground course winner (2m4½f) BULLS HEAD who has clearly lost his way over fences more latterly.