16:10 Hereford

Wednesday 27 March 2024

All14:4015:1015:4016:1016:4517:15

Read Harry Cobden's Blog At PlanetSportBet Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 4m 12.02s

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Selected odds by:

Intimate⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 103

4/1

Placed in a bumper in France and improved further when finishing a close third upped to 2½m at Uttoxeter in December. Underperformed switched to handicaps both runs subsequently, though.

Form: 88-2365

Kapamazov⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: H J Evans| OR: 99

13/2

Fair maiden for Sam Drinkwater and he posted a creditable sixth on his stable bow in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (20.7f, soft) 62 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 244-06

Tour Ovalie²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 97

4/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and has gone with promise over hurdles thus far, fourth of 9 in novice at Doncaster (19.4f, heavy) 24 days ago. Should have more to offer on her handicap debut.

Form: 4-26534

Cawthorne Banker^p1³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 94

7/4

Fairly useful form when placed in bumpers. Yet to match that form over hurdles but he took a step forward when fifth of 12 in novice at Taunton (16.5f, soft) 36 days ago. Cheekpieces added for his handicap debut. Interesting.

Form: 327-085

Owl Of Athens³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams| OR: 87

25/1

Court Cave gelding who failed to build on earlier promise when beating only one on his handicap debut here last month. Shouldn't be written off.

Form: 7856

Daany^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: M G Nolan| T: J Tickle| OR: 85

8/1

Finally off the mark at Wincanton in January and still in front when unseated rider 3 out back there 20 days ago. Not ruled out if on a going day.

Form: 24127U

Orbys River¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 75

12/1

Modest maiden hurdler who comes here on the back of a good second of 5 in handicap at Huntingdon (15.8f, soft) 14 days ago. In the mix despite being 2 lb out of the handicap.

Form: FP66P2

Non-Runners

Evenwood Sonofagun³⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Liam Harrison

State Of Bliss⁹⁹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: N B King J: J M Quinlan

Deadlock²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: A Ralph J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Cawthorne Banker (7/4), Intimate (4/1), Tour Ovalie (4/1), Kapamazov (13/2), Evenwood Sonofagun (7/1), Deadlock (7/1), Daany (8/1), Orbys River (12/1), State Of Bliss (16/1), Owl Of Athens (25/1)

An open contest but Jonjo O'Neill's CAWTHORNE BANKER looks to start life in handicaps on a good mark so this fairly useful bumper performer gets the vote. Tour Ovalie appeals as another likely improver now setting out in this company and is next on the list ahead of in-form pair Kapamazov and Deadlock.