14:45 Carlisle

Sunday 3 December 2023

All12:3512:3513:0513:3514:1014:4515:20

Follow Rhino.Bet On Instagram Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 17.13s

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Selected odds by:

Hostile Hotelier¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-5| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 105

6/4

Justified strong support to make a successful switch to handicaps in 5-runner event at Hexham (16.2f, heavy) 11 days ago. Return to this trip rates as a positive and he should go close again from 5 lb higher mark.

Form: 4295-41

Dance Thief¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: R M Smith| OR: 100

11/1

Point winner has showed modest form across 4 hurdles outings at Perth to date, though looked rather summed up by his mark when fifth of 9 in handicap (20.2f, good) 162 days ago.

Form: 519-435

Barney Stinson^p⁴⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: A Nicol| OR: 96

6/1

Tumbled in the weights for this yard but was holding his own at this kind of level in summer 2022, running well to be second in a 6-runner handicap at Perth (23.9f, good, 7/1) when last seen. 16-month absence is a concern but he's a player if retaining all ability.

Form: 06/4232-

Gun Merchant⁵²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 89

22/1

Winner over fences at Newcastle in late-2021 but seen only sparingly since, brushed aside quickly when last of 6 at Perth when last out. Goes back hurdling after 17-month absence.

Form: 1652/F6-

Living's Boy An Co¹⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 85| D

5/1

Off the mark in emphatic fashion over fences at Market Rasen last October but little to write home about since, including when returned to this sphere at Aintree in June.

Form: 21U-U75

Boyneside⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 77

20/1

Well held on sole bumper outing and hasn't fared any better hurdling. Plenty more required now handicapping.

Form: 87-08

Begoodtoyourself⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: C N Kellett| OR: 70

3/1

Limitations have long been exposed but he at least ran up to his recent best when fifth of 13 in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Uttoxeter (23.3f, good to soft) 81 days ago. Out of the handicap but may be able to reach the frame in a weak contest.

Form: 8PP435

Non-Runners

Batman For Ever²⁴¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: R Menzies J: Ross Chapman

Scots Gold¹⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Lizzie Quinlan J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Hostile Hotelier (6/4), Begoodtoyourself (3/1), Living's Boy An Co (5/1), Barney Stinson (6/1), Dance Thief (11/1), Batman For Ever (16/1), Boyneside (20/1), Scots Gold (20/1), Gun Merchant (22/1)

A weak contest which should go the way of HOSTILE HOTELIER, who made a winning start in handicap company at Hexham last month and promises to find the extra couple of furlongs here to his benefit. Barney Stinson has been off the track for 16 months but would pose a serious threat if returning in top form, with the low-mileage Dance Thief a modest pick for third.