14:57 Warwick

Thursday 27 March 2025

All14:2714:5715:2715:5716:3217:05

Tony Darby Retirement Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:57 | Winning time: 6m 19.72s

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Selected odds by:

Honey Jack^t1⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 94

11/2

Took a step forward when getting off the mark in 3m Taunton handicap (good to soft) in November. Said to have made a respiratory noise when only fifth back there in January and sports a first-time tongue after a further 10 weeks off.

Form: P5-6415

The Dark Edge^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 92

9/1

Improved further after 5 months off when landing a 9-runner handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) in September. Creditable in-frame efforts on next 3 starts but his run of good form came to a halt when only seventh at Newcastle 24 days ago.

Form: 2-12247

Seasmoke¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 90

13/2

Prominent racer who made it third time lucky in handicaps at Market Rasen (20.5f, good) last May. Better effort since returning from a break when 2 lengths third of 13 over 2¾m at Stratford 17 days ago. Up in trip. Considered.

Form: 744-143

Lyness Dancer²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 81

16/1

Made her first impact when third on 3¼m Fontwell handicap debut 3 weeks ago, leading for a long way under an enterprising ride. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 6-84853

De Vega's Warrior^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 80

14/1

Frustrating maiden on the Flat and now 0-7 over hurdles. Did place in a couple of handicaps around the turn of the year. Also in the process of running well when falling 2 out at Taunton latest but his jumping is becoming a concern.

Form: 53336F

Just Four Fame^t,v³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 77

6/1

Third in an Aintree bumper in May 2022 but hurdling efforts have been uninspiring in the main. Readily passed over.

Form: PP0658

Newtonian^p,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁵⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 77| C

15/2

Got off the mark over 25f here last May. Also posted creditable in-frame efforts in the autumn but has been below par since, finishing a distant fourth at Hereford last time. Has a first-time tongue tie added to his regular cheekpieces here.

Form: 34U004

One Man Party¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 75

14/1

Poor maiden. Ran his best race when second of 6 in 3m Fakenham handicap last month but not in anything like the same form when fading into a remote seventh at Hereford 19 days ago.

Form: 8P-6627

Lizzie Rey^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 75

9/2

Much improved for the addition of cheekpieces when springing a 33/1 surprise in 3m Southwell handicap 10 days ago, staying on well to score by 4 lengths. That was a conditional jockeys' event so she can run off the same mark again.

Form: 079-P01

Luna Run¹⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 74

9/2

Poor maiden but reached the frame on all 4 handicap hurdle starts in the first half of the season, although she was reported to have made a respiratory noise on 3 of those occasions. Returns from a 141-day break minus the tongue tie she's worn on her last 2 starts.

Form: 45-2434

The Last Melon¹⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-5| J: William Featherstone⁽⁷⁾| T: J Bennett| OR: 66

125/1

Poor veteran. Off almost 4 years prior to this season and has shown very little.

Form: 66/7P8P

Non-Runners

Victory Club⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: H Dickin J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Luna Run (9/2), Lizzie Rey (9/2), Honey Jack (11/2), Just Four Fame (6/1), Seasmoke (13/2), Newtonian (15/2), The Dark Edge (9/1), One Man Party (14/1), De Vega's Warrior (14/1), Lyness Dancer (16/1), Victory Club (20/1), The Last Melon (125/1)

LIZZIE REY escapes a penalty for last week's Southwell success and will take a bit of stopping if the cheekpieces continue to have a positive effect. Seasmoke could be a threat if his stamina holds over this significantly longer trip. Honey Jack is another likely to have a say if the addition of a tongue tie helps him to recapture the form he showed when successful at Taunton in November.