WINCANTON

3:50 TEXT BETFRED TO 83080 FOR MOBILE BETTING HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 3) (4yo+,0-130) 2m6f

CHIARO 11-12 ~ Placed in Group 1 Hurdle at Auteuil before joining his current yard and made an extremely encouraging start to his new career when winning at Chepstow. He was disappointing next time out at Aintree but restored some confidence when beating Pace Shot at Cheltenham. Great things were expected this season but the horse has been disappointing and only troubled the judges when dropped in class at Kempton. The horse clearly struggles in competitive handicaps but his handicap mark doesn’t give his trainer a lot of other options. He was raised 5lbs by the handicapper for that Kempton 2nd behind Kicks For Free but apart from the clear winner that form doesn’t look that good. He’ll need to be dropped a fair bit in the handicap before he starts winning races like this.

IROQUS WARRIOR 11-6 ~ Won a bumper at the beginning of the season but he took time to warm to hurdles. After two disappointing efforts he got off the mark in a Taunton novice hurdle coming back from a long way to win. That was a weak race so it was an improved performance when justifying favouritism next time out in a handicap at the same track. He came from a long way back but once he hit the front he ran around, hung and hit the last so it was a great effort from his jockey to get him to win the race. The front three were clear of the field but it contained a lot of deadwood and watching the race it seems that Very Wise and Kilbeggan Blade probably cut each others throats by engaging in a battle along way from home. They were the horses to take from the race and Very Wise has gone in again to frank the form but the race seemed to be set-up for the Nicholls horse. He’s been hit with a 15lbs hike in the ratings so life is going to be tougher and although he probably hasn’t stopped improving his overall profile doesn’t encourage that he is worth siding with at a short price in a competitive field.

LEASE BACK 11-1 ~ 9lbs higher than when winning at the end of last season and hasn’t shown anything in two runs this season. Looks too high in the handicap and should struggle in this company even if bouncing back to form.

HARRIS BAY 10-13 ~ Needs to go right handed but has had serious problems with his breathing so his win over course and distance in soft ground may have left its mark. Pulled up last time in a competitive handicap chase so he needs to bounce back but his form last season tailed off so chances are the same is happening this year. Raised 12lbs for his last win over hurdles he is still well handicapped on his chase form but the horse is a much better chaser than a hurdler and he may struggle to defy the handicapper back over hurdles. He still warrants plenty of respect though as the yard are in good form and on his day he can be very good but his well documented problems make him a risky proposition.

NOUGAT DE L’ISLE 10-10 ~ Decent novice hurdler whose finest effort came over course and distance when beating Nudge And Nurdle by 5 lengths. That run has worked out particularly well and the horse always seems to run well at Wincanton as his record reads 3241. He was sent chasing this season and despite his jumping not holding up he ran good races behind Lead On and won a nice race at Newbury. However his dodgy jumping came to the fore last time out when having to be pulled up after losing several lengths at almost every fence. Handicap chases have been shelved and the horse lines up in a handicap hurdle for the first time. As he was a better hurdler than a chaser he should be well handicapped of 114 considering the handicapper had him 9lbs higher over the larger obstacles. Todays conditions should be ideal and as a potential blot on the handicap he should run well.

PISTOL DEBOIS 10-9 ~ Not far off Listed class in France but he failed to show anything near that form for his new connections before being well backed last time out when winning at Chepstow. That was a weak if not competitive race but the front two who both appeared well handicapped pulled clear of the field. He is open to plenty of further improvement but he will have to as he has been raised 8lbs by the handicapper. Should still be able to get competitive though and has lively chances.

GIOVANNA 10-8 ~ Came back well at the beginning of this season but after two seconds he has risen 7lbs in the handicap. His close 2nd to Pyleigh Lady at Newbury was of particular note with that rival running well in the Coral Cup. However that still means he has to find ground on Chiaro on his form behind Kicks For Free and Giovanna hasn’t matched that form in two subsequent runs although he did fall last time out. In this competitive field he may struggle on a mark that doesn’t leave much room for manoeuvre

CONCLUSION

Shorlist includes Chiaro, Iroquis Warrior, Harris Bay, Nougat De L’Isle and Pistol Debois.

Chiaro although clearly good on his day is too inconsistent to rely on and that is a same can be said of Harris Bay, both are passed over as a result. The favourite Iroquis Warrior won a weak novice hurdle at Chepstow before having things drop his way in a handicap hurdle at the same course. That proved he stays but he looked an awkward ride and probably idles in front so Ruby Walsh will need to earn his fee if he is to win and at the skinny price is taken on. There should be more to come from Pistol Debois and he has a chance but it wasn’t the greatest of races he won last time out and the handicapper has had his say. So at the prices a chance is taken that Nougat De L’Isle can take advantage of his potentially lenient mark in his first try in a handicap hurdle. He has done well over fences considering he can’t jump so back over hurdles he should be able to prove that he has improved since last seen in that sphere. He goes well at Wincanton and has ground conditions to suit so he should go well for his in-form yard.

1pt WIN – NOUGAT DE L’ISLE @ 12.5

RESULT

NOUGAT DE L’ISLE 5th = -1pt

MARCH TOTAL = +65.63PTS