15:15 Stratford

Sunday 23 April 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

NAF Five Star Metazone Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 52.4s

Settings

Selected odds by:

The Questioner^p³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 99| BF| D

3/1

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ascot in November and made a successful switch to fences at Doncaster (3¼m) before excellent third in North Wales National at Bangor. Let down by his jumping at Sedgefield subsequently but could resume progress now returned to the smaller obstacles.

Form: 221134

Our Three Sons^p²³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Charlotte Fuller| OR: 97| C| D

10/1

Snapped a long losing run at Plumpton last May and remained in form thereafter, going in again at Newton Abbot (26.5f) in July. Creditable third back at that venue a month later and whilst absent since, he's not out of things for each-way purposes operating from last winning mark.

Form: 13F413

Shantou Sunset^p,t⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 95| CD

17/2

Successful over C&D on final start for Philip Hobbs last May but she's proved more miss than hit in handful of starts for present stable, leading until 2 out but ultimately finishing well held at Taunton (23.9f) in March.

Form: 14P768

William Ewart^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 91

2/1

Much more like it switched to handicaps over hurdles, placed first 2 starts and left Ffos Las disappointment (following break/wind op) in his wake when bolting up at Bangor (23f, soft) 4 weeks ago, drawing clear run-in. Hit with a 10 lb rise but good chance he can do better again.

Form: 00-2301

Reve De Niamh^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 88

11/1

Runner-up only start in bumpers (sole start for Fergal O'Brien) and matched pick of his hurdles exploits for present stable when second at Ayr (3m) in February. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 678072

Dora De Janeiro¹¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: S G West| OR: 86

15/2

Losing run stretches back to March 2021 but produced her best effort for a while under a more positive ride when third of 12 at Market Rasen (23f, soft) in December. Not in same form back at around 20f at Ayr in January but she's not out of things from this sort of mark on balance.

Form: P4-0735

Frame Rate^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: M G Nolan| T: C J Gray| OR: 79

50/1

Winless over hurdles since 2019 but has tasted success twice on the level subsequently, latterly at Wolverhampton 12 months ago. Comes here fit and in-form from recent spins on AW and career-low mark to operate from back in this sphere.

Form: 9205/08-

Moscow Spy⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 77

12/1

Maiden who shaped as if better for the run following 7 months off for new yard at Uttoxeter (20f) in February but in process of running below form when falling 2 out at Taunton (19f) since. Cheekpieces/tongue tie left off here.

Form: 066-48F

Tis But A Scratch²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Georgie Howell| OR: 71

18/1

Little to shout about in bumpers/over hurdles and whilst he did fare a little better when fourth behind William Ewart at Bangor recently, he will need to step up a good deal more on that if he's to feature here.

Form: 8P-88P4

Top Drawer²²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 70

20/1

Remains with little solid form in handicap hurdles, off bridle before most and beaten some way out when pulled up at Uttoxeter (23.3f) in September. Can only be watched having been absent since.

Form: P-5574P

Luckello^p⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 69

33/1

Displayed only poor form over hurdles for Olly Murphy and she's yet to complete in trio of chase tries for present yard. Operating from 4 lb out of the weights returned to hurdles.

Form: 6-11PFP

Non-Runners

Quiet Thunder¹³⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: Sarah Hollinshead J: Chris Ward

Loch Garman Aris¹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 13

T: G Hanmer J: Tabitha Worsley

Forecasts

William Ewart (2/1), The Questioner (3/1), Dora De Janeiro (15/2), Shantou Sunset (17/2), Our Three Sons (10/1), Reve De Niamh (11/1), Moscow Spy (12/1), Tis But A Scratch (18/1), Top Drawer (20/1), Loch Garman Aris (25/1), Luckello (33/1), Quiet Thunder (33/1), Frame Rate (50/1)

Steadily progressive from a low base over hurdles, THE QUESTIONER continued the good work initially over fences, earlier this year. Undone by mistakes on his latest start in that sphere, he returns to timber with potential to do better still and earns the vote to concede weight all round and come out on top. Easy Bangor scorer William Ewart rates the chief danger, despite his much-inflated mark. Dora de Janeiro and Our Three Sons can also make the frame.