12:40 Warwick

Saturday 11 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:00

Join Racing TV Now Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 3m 58.1s

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Selected odds by:

Bathiva¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 109

10/1

Still a maiden in five starts under Rules but he's shown ability and he was only narrowly denied at Stratford back in July; gave the impression he may appreciate a step up in trip subsequently though.

Form: 534-234

Elton Des Mottes²⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 103

13/2

A maiden after five starts under Rules and doesn't look particularly well-handicapped on the form that saw him finish fifth of 13 at Uttoxeter when last seen in May; may have improved in the interim though.

Form: 5/905-5

Milanstorm²⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 102| CD

11/2

Bumper winner at this venue but has failed to build on that over hurdles since. Last of 10 here when last seen in May and has another absence to overcome; others preferred.

Form: 21/636-0

Manor Park^p1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: A King| OR: 101

4/1

Useful on the Flat and gives the impression we may not have seen the best of him over hurdles just yet. Feasibly handicapped and first-time cheekpieces are a potential source of improvement.

Form: 42744

Easkey Lad²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: D Burchell| OR: 100

100/1

Moderate on the Flat and shown nothing over hurdles to date, including yard debut last time; no signs he's well handicapped, despite a 5lb drop from the handicapper.

Form: 8804-67

Secret Beri^h⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: B R Summers| OR: 99

50/1

Beaten a long way at big prices on all five of her career starts. Would do better if she settled better and her effort last time wasn't devoid of encouragement but hard to fancy regardless.

Form: 08-506

Bard Of Brittany⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 97

7/2

Didn't take to the larger obstacles but showed he could be a threat in this sort of grade when second of 16 at Taunton in November. Each-way claims if he can build on that, despite a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 496-382

Motashakel⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 109

7/1

Useful on the Flat for Kevin Prendergast, winning a maiden at Leopardstown. However, well beaten in two starts over timber and disappointed when sent off at odds of just 11/4 over C&D last time out.

Form: 43

Twycross Warrior⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 96| D

15/2

Wide margin winner at Uttoxeter in May but disappointed next time at Southwell. Returned with a more promising effort at Hereford in November though and a drop back in trip could be to his benefit here.

Form: P6-5134

Megalodon^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 92

14/1

Showed promise over fences last season despite not getting his head in front but it's been a different story this campaign, barely beating a rival home and failing to finish twice (tailed off on only other start); hard to recommend on that evidence.

Form: 063-P0P

Bonjour Steve⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 91

50/1

Moderate on the Flat, as seen when beaten a long way at Southwell earlier in the week and has failed to hit the frame in five starts over hurdles; others preferred.

Form: 80564-

Non-Runners

Made For You²⁰²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: O Murphy J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Bard Of Brittany (7/2), Manor Park (4/1), Milanstorm (11/2), Elton Des Mottes (13/2), Motashakel (7/1), Made For You (7/1), Twycross Warrior (15/2), Bathiva (10/1), Megalodon (14/1), Secret Beri (50/1), Bonjour Steve (50/1), Easkey Lad (100/1)

A tricky novice handicap to open the card but it might be worth taking a chance on the potentially well-handicapped MANOR PARK who may appreciate more of a speed test here and gets the benefit of first-time headgear. Bard Of Brittany has each-way claims if he's in the same form as his most recent effort when placed at Taunton while Elton Des Mottes may have improved since we last saw him for a yard in fair form.