Betfair Racing Podcasts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 19.4s

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Selected odds by:

Melon⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 122| D

5/2

Lightly raced improver on Flat (14f winner) who was well on top finish when seeing off Narragansett to make it 2 wins from opening 3 starts in juvenile hurdles at Wetherby 44 days ago. In good hands and feasible to think he can progress further now handicapping.

Form: 161

Galactic Charm^p⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117

16/1

Fairly useful staying handicapper on Flat who posted a promising second on yard/hurdles bow over C&D in December. Didn't need to repeat that effort when going one place better at Fontwell later that month and this more suitable than Gr. 2 assignment latest. Cheekpieces back on for handicap bow.

Form: 21P

Narragansett^h²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| D

85/40

Fairly useful (and lightly-raced) winner on the Flat who, having found only one too good on first 2 hurdle runs, had little trouble landing cramped odds in a Plumpton maiden (15.9f) last month. Form to date has substance and interesting switched to handicaps. Hood retained.

Form: 221

Midnight Rumble²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 113

10/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat and posted fair form on 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles to date, fourth of 7 in juvenile hurdle at Warwick (16f, soft) 28 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut with some work to do, however.

Form: 624

Lucky Bere²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 110| BF

9/2

Fair 1½m Flat winner in France and similar form when making frame all 3 starts in juvenile hurdles for new stable in recent months. Laid down solid foundations then with a view to stepping into handicaps and this stiffer track may well play to his strengths.

Form: 223

Risk It All^h1⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 109| BF

11/2

Easy winner of only start on Flat in France and promise amidst inexperience when third in a Kempton juvenile (2m) on stable debut in December. Raced freely when beaten at short odds in Plumpton novice 6 weeks ago but first-time hood can help now handicapping. Respected.

Form: 32

Volakes³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 104

25/1

Mid-division at best in maiden/minor events on Flat for William Haggas. Some promise in pair of hurdle runs for new yard, shaping better than distance beaten suggests when third in mares' novice at Chepstow (2m) 39 days ago. Assessor has taken no chances with her opening mark, though.

Form: 33

Forecasts

Narragansett (85/40), Melon (5/2), Lucky Bere (9/2), Risk It All (11/2), Midnight Rumble (10/1), Galactic Charm (16/1), Volakes (25/1)

A lightly-raced, improving stayer on the Flat, MELON has essentially continued that theme over timber, making it 2 wins from 3 starts when fending off re-opposing Narragansett in a Wetherby juvenile in January. He looks sure to do better still now handicapping and is selected to come out on top. Lucky Bere and aforementioned Narragansett are others fancied to feature. Risk It All is also worth a look.