12:47 Leicester

Thursday 1 December 2022

All12:1512:4713:1713:4714:1714:4715:17

Dale Hall & Hickman Associates Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:47 | Winning time: 5m 12.1s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Imac Wood²⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Chris Ward⁽³⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 118

66/1

Dual chase winner in France, scoring in 6-runner claiming event at Fontainebleau (17.9f, soft, 15/10) when last seen 8 months ago. First run for yard after leaving Mlle D. Mele. No chances taken with opening mark on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 444161-

Kotmask³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116

15/8

Landed back-to-back juvenile events at Fontwell and Huntingdon last term. Shaped as if retaining all ability when fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Ascot (15.7f, good) 33 days ago and he could make more impact in this lower grade.

Form: 51157-4

Shalakar²⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 114| D

11/1

Has only made the track once in nearly 4 years and didn't go with a great deal of promise on that outing. 13 lb lower in the weights than for last hurdles start but has to prove he retains ability.

Form: 31320/6-

Luckofthedraw²⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: T Bulgin| OR: 114| D

25/1

Better known as a chaser nowadays, scoring twice over 20f in that sphere last year. Has won fresh in the past but the combination of the 8-month absence and lack of recent hurdling promise means others are preferred.

Form: 122254-

Ballintubber Boy^v1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

8/1

Clumsy sort overcame typical jumping errors to score at Stratford in October and ran respectably enough from this mark when sixth at Ludlow last month. Bit more required in this company with visor applied first time.

Form: 1P66-16

Sullivan's Brow²⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109

12/1

Irish point winner gained a maiden success under Rules when taking a 2m novice hurdle at Uttoxeter in January. Underperformed on handicap debut when last seen but is bred to improve for this trip.

Form: 3/16414-

Apple Rock⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 108| D

5/4

Slipped in weights last term and returned with a career best victory in a 7-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell (24.3f, soft) 9 days ago. The one to beat racing from same mark here.

Form: P53F3-1

Iron Horse^p³⁰²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R T Phillips| OR: 106| D

22/1

Presumably had his problems to be so lightly raced for his age, though was runner-up in a C&D event last season. Pulled up again on his latest outing, though, and others have more solid profiles.

Form: 2557/2P-

Forecasts

Apple Rock (5/4), Kotmask (15/8), Ballintubber Boy (8/1), Shalakar (11/1), Sullivan's Brow (12/1), Iron Horse (22/1), Luckofthedraw (25/1), Imac Wood (66/1)

APPLE ROCK has shown his form at a higher level than this and sprung back to his best at Southwell last week, so should take all the beating from an unchanged mark. Kotmask shaped well on his reappearance at Ascot and is respected, with Sullivan's Brow perhaps capable of better over this longer trip on his return.