13:40 Wetherby

Saturday 13 January 2024

All12:3513:1013:4014:1514:5015:2515:57

William Hill Daily Bet Boost Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 6m 48.8s

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Selected odds by:

Drop Flight^h,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: Noel Williams| OR: 112

22/1

Fairly useful ex-French chaser who was placed on all 4 completed starts in hunter chases at the beginning of 2023. However, he didn't show much back in this sphere when returning to action in a Chepstow novice last month.

Form: 322P2-6

Delgany Bobby Blue^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 110

4/1

Showed promise on first start in bumpers and has made an encouraging start over hurdles, finishing third of 10 on his handicap debut at Ascot (21.6f, good) last time. This unexposed 6-y-o may have more to offer now faced with a stiffer test.

Form: P/20-233

Stratton Oakmont²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul O'Brien| T: K Woollacott| OR: 106| BF| D

9/1

Finally got off the mark in 3-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell (24.3f, heavy) in November. That wasn't a particularly strong race, though, and while his subsequent Doncaster second wasn't a bad effort, others make greater appeal.

Form: P12-312

Paddy O'Mahler²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 102

4/1

Mahler gelding who shaped like a stayer in bumpers and has left the same impression in his 3 starts since switched to hurdles at up to 19.7f. Now gets the test he seemingly needs and this opening mark looks manageable.

Form: 325-454

Sprucefrontiers³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 101

7/1

Last of 3 finishers sole start in Irish points but showed plenty to work on when fourth in 11-runner novice at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) in November. Failed to build on that next time but he's well worth another chance now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 3/44

Moro Rock¹⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Bannister| T: Sara Ender| OR: 97

33/1

Modest form in bumpers and ran to a similar level on first of 2 starts in novice/maiden hurdles during the summer. More needed now upped in trip for this handicap debut following a break.

Form: 368-44

Perculator^p1⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 96

13/2

Bumper winner and though yet to really kick on over hurdles, she should be sharper for last month's Newcastle reappearance and being dropped a further 2 lb can only help. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 24264-6

Shewearsthewellies^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 96

7/2

Has a quirky side, but it isn't stopping her at present, winning 3 of her 4 starts since switching to handicap hurdles. 6 lb rise for latest success doesn't appear prohibitive and she should be in the mix with Gavin Sheehan doing the steering.

Form: 3P-1211

Knacker Trapper⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 93

12/1

Modest in bumpers and similar standard in novice hurdles at up to 2½m. Perhaps this step up in trip/switch to handicap company will bring about improvement but others make more appeal all the same.

Form: 944-885

Line In The Sand¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 92

33/1

Left previous Rules form well behind when hitting the crossbar on handicap debut at Sedgefield (21.2f, soft) on penultimate start. Failed to build on that next time, though, and she's needs to get back on track.

Form: 967924

Dark Duomo^p,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 81

28/1

Poor maiden hurdler for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White and, having exited at the second flight on debut for this yard in a Hexham handicap hurdle, he has subsequently failed to land a blow in a couple of handicap chases. Opposable back in this sphere.

Form: 062-F44

Forecasts

Shewearsthewellies (7/2), Delgany Bobby Blue (4/1), Paddy O'Mahler (4/1), Perculator (13/2), Sprucefrontiers (7/1), Stratton Oakmont (9/1), Knacker Trapper (12/1), Drop Flight (22/1), Dark Duomo (28/1), Moro Rock (33/1), Line In The Sand (33/1)

The vote goes to PADDY O'MAHLER, who showed plenty in bumpers and can be expected to step up on his form in novice hurdles now faced with a stiffer test and switched to handicap company. Fellow handicap debutant Sprucefrontiers remains of interest, despite failing to build on his Rules debut promise when a well-held fourth at Chepstow, and the progressive Shewearsthewellies is also accorded respect. Delgany Bobby Blue is open to improvement and he is another for the shortlist.