14:30 Stratford

Saturday 29 March 2025

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Cash Is King On Course Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 59.4s

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Selected odds by:

Lawmans Blis^t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 99

13/2

Fair winner at 14f on flat for Ivan Furtado. Stepped forward from debut for this yard to win a 7-runner novice hurdle at Sedgefield (16.8f), for all he was gifted the race when the odds-on favourite fell and nearly threw it away when losing concentration at the last. Shortlisted on handicap debut.

Form: 6B5-61

Get The Value¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 91

10/1

Respectable second of 12 at Newton Abbot (18.5f) in July remains a standout effort over hurdles and has questions to answer now having pulled-up on his last two outings.

Form: 9-652PP

Belle Montrose^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 89

3/1

Still a maiden but shaped quite encouragingly when fifth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) in January, pulling clear of the remainder. Presumably not quite right on her last outing having become detached after the first. Chance if back on song.

Form: 543557

Rockette²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 84

9/2

Showed ability both starts over hurdles for Dan Skelton in May/June 2023. Back from 19 months off when creditable fifth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (19f) on debut for this stable but failed to build on that when disappointing at Huntingdon earlier this month. Bounce back needed.

Form: 00/33-59

Fillyfudge³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: Lemos Souza| OR: 83

17/2

Bettered previous efforts in this sphere when third of 8 at Leicester in November (15.5f, good to soft) but not seen to best effect in testing conditions over the same C&D next time. Likely to be suited by the sharper track/better ground here and should be spot on for this after pipe-opener on Flat.

Form: 34/70-35

Penthouse Poppet³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 82

12/1

Looked a modest performer in Ireland for Colin A. McBratney, last seen when well-held at Down Royal (24.1f) in November 2023. Drops significantly in trip for stable debut and only worth considering if market vibes hint at an improved effort.

Form: 7-75654

For You Buzz²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 89

22/1

Didn't achieve much in qualifying runs, though not given hard time on the last of those when third of 6 in juvenile hurdle at Taunton. Ran badly when well-beaten at Hereford (16.2f) on handicap debut 3 weeks ago and he may again find this test on the sharp side.

Form: U638

Freedom Day^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Paul Robson| OR: 78

20/1

Fair Flat winner but he has made an inauspicious start in this sphere and for present connections, again achieving little when fifth of 7 in novice hurdle at Hexham (16.2f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Needs to improve for the switch to handicaps.

Form: U045

Mambo Beat^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Lee Edwards| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 75

7/2

Flat winner in 2023 for Clive Cox and has proved inconsistent over hurdles for this yard, certainly more miss than hit this season but did shape better fitted with first-time cheekpieces (retained) when chasing home the front two in the market at Hereford 3 weeks ago. Claims if he can back that up.

Form: 3-56863

No Guarantee^p,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Cynthia Woods| OR: 65

50/1

Remains with little form over hurdles and faces an uphill task from 9 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 074P87

Non-Runners

Present De Vango⁵²⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: O Murphy J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Belle Montrose (3/1), Present De Vango (3/1), Mambo Beat (7/2), Rockette (9/2), Lawmans Blis (13/2), Fillyfudge (17/2), Get The Value (10/1), Penthouse Poppet (12/1), Freedom Day (20/1), For You Buzz (22/1), No Guarantee (50/1)

Olly Murphy has struck with 3 of his last 7 handicap hurdle debutants (also had 2 runners-up) and he may be able to enhance that fine record with PRESENT DE VANGO. The lightly-raced 7-y-o appears to have been brought along with handicaps in mind and makes appeal in a weak race, particularly if the market noises are positive following a 17-month absence. Fillyfudge will be suited by this sharp test and should be spot on after a recent spin on the Flat, with Mambo Beat not ruled out.