Fifth Race 4.00

The William Hill Gold Cup Top Price Guarantee

Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 4)

Race Description

This is a two miles handicap hurdle race for four-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 0 to 115. Once a horse has qualified for a handicap rating this is regularly reassessed. A below par effort could result in a reduced rating whilst a strong performance could see the rating increased. Occasionally, horses are entered to race before their handicap rating has been reviewed and so to avoid recent winners being un-penalised they are allotted a mandatory penalty – usually 7lb.

for four yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £9500 Owners Prize Money. 1st £3837, 2nd £1918, 3rd £960, 4th £480, 5th £239. (Penalty Value £5016.95) Weights raised 1lb and paragraph 34 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable. colours no horse

1 MACK THE MAN (IRE) (62) 505-545 D

Br B g Flemensfirth (USA) - Nifty Nuala (IRE) Adam Wedge J

O Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams, Llancarfan T

B Mr Mark Grace, Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEW Four-time winner over hurdles who hasn’t fired this season but has dropped to a very tempting mark and now has headgear fitted.

2 KILLALOAN (IRE) (20) 341 CD

Br B g Fastnet Rock (AUS) - Farranjordan Harry Cobden J

O Owners Group 093 Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat T

B Newtown Anner Stud Owners Group S

TIMEFORMVIEW Fair maiden in Ireland and improved when landing the odds on third run over hurdles for current yard in C&D maiden 3 weeks ago, easily coming clear under this rider Leading claims on handicap debut.

3 LIGHT EM UP NIGEL (IRE) (77) 22-2220

TFRHHHHH BHA112

7 11-11

Br B g Leading Light (IRE) - Hushed Up (IRE) Sam Twiston-Davies J

O Bradley Partnership Nicky Martin, Minehead T

B Mrs Dolores Traynor Charles Simpson Organisation Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEWRunner-up 5 times on the spin over hurdles and did too much too soon after 10 months off at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. One to note back in trip.

4 COOLNAUGH HAZE (IRE) (77) 1-24566 D

TFRHHHII BHA111

5 11-10

Br B g Lawman (FR) - Midas Haze Miss Ella Herbison (7) J

O Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Cool Philip Hobbs, Minehead T

B B. & J. McDonald Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Won a 2m Huntingdon handicap in April and runner-up at Ludlow the following month. Poor since though, a scruffy round of hurdling not helping as he was well held at Wincanton on Boxing Day TFRHHHII BHA110

5 FORRARD AWAY (IRE) (40) 400-000 D

8 11-9

Br B or Br g Califet (FR) - Hunting Spirit (IRE) Beau Morgan (7) J

O Mr Ryan G. Chapman Ryan Chapman, St Mawgan T

B P. E. I. Newell

TIMEFORMVIEW Three-time winner in Ireland but went with little encouragement for new yard at Exeter 6 weeks ago.

6 ON THE WILD SIDE (IRE) (38) 110/UP-0 D

TFRHHIII BHA109

10 11-8

Br B g Robin des Champs (FR) - Clear Riposte (IRE) Charlie Hammond J

O M Albon & M P Tudor Dr Richard Newland, Droitwich T

B Mrs Mary Ahearne Coulthursts Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEW Dual 2m winner over hurdles at Hexham in autumn of 2020. Lightly raced since, offering little back over hurdles after 15 months off/wind op at Chepstow

7 FILANDERER (GB) (49) 10-660 D

TFRHHIII BHA108

7 11-7

Br B g Kayf Tara - Flirtatious Paul O’Brien J

O Mrs M. D. W. Morrison Hughie Morrison, East Ilsley T

B Mrs M. D. W. Morrison Bridgend Hotel S

TIMEFORM VIEW Warwick bumper winner who shaped with promise when sixth on hurdles debut at Ascot (19.2f) in November Modest twice since but could do better now handicapping down in trip in first-time hood.

8 BOOK OF SECRETS (IRE) (33) 23-4

Br B g Free Eagle (IRE) - Alice Treasure (IRE)

TFRHHHII BHA107

5 11-7

Bridget Andrews J

O Craig & Laura Buckingham Dan Skelton, Alcester T

B Renata Coleman & Irish National Stud Manor Farm Bloodstock S

TIMEFORMVIEW Fair on the Flat and matched that form when placed in a pair of juvenile hurdles in late 2021. Shaped better than the distance beaten after 15 months off at Southwell 33 days ago and one to note now handicapping.

TFRHHHII BHA107

Br Ch g Valirann (FR) - Shocona (IRE)

B Ben McCabe Coral Racing Limited

TIMEFORMVIEWHalf-brother to useful hurdler Shantreusse who has shaped well in a couple of Exeter events this term,but looks more of a stayer Handicap debut. TFRHHHII BHA107

10 TYING THE KNOT (USA) (46) 351P D

Br B g Noble Mission - Hope’s Diamond (USA) Gavin Sheehan J

O Mr Andy Peake Alan King, Barbury Castle

B Mr Ernest Fronboese Goodwin Racing Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEW Much improved when winning at Hereford (2m) at the beginning of the year but ran a modest race at Wetherby next time. Visor goes on for handicap debut TFRHHHII BHA111

11 JUST ANOTHER ONE (IRE) (34) 2050

Br B g Vocalised (USA) - Teacht An Earraig (USA) David Noonan J

O Atlantic Friends Racing Nigel Hawke, Tiverton

B J. S. Bolger Junction 24 Ltd

TIMEFORMVIEWRan to fairly useful level on second Flat outing and shaped well when runner-up on hurdles debut in September Not so good since though, looking a hard ride fitted with cheekpieces on handicap bow here (19f) last month.Visor goes on now. TFRHHIII BHA99

DECLARED RUNNERS 11 2022: DIBBLE DECKER (IRE) 6 11 9 Stan Sheppard 6-4 (Tom Lacey) 7 ran

Hood worn first time by No. 7. Visor worn first time by No. 10, 11. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No. 1.

Tongue Strap worn by No. 2, 6, 7, 8. Running for the first time since Wind Surgery No. 7.

Stewards Note:

LIGHT EM UP NIGEL: Following its run on 26/12/2022 it was reported that the trainer could not explain the poor run.

TYING THE KNOT: Following its run on 26/1/2023 it was reported that the trainer could not explain the poor run.

Probable S.P’s: 4-1 Killaloan (IRE), 11-2 Book of Secrets (IRE), 6-1 Western General (IRE), 13-2 Mack The Man (IRE), 7-1 Filanderer (GB), 11-1 Light Em Up Nigel (IRE), 14-1 Coolnaugh Haze (IRE), Tying The Knot (USA), 33-1 On The Wild Side (IRE), 50-1 Forrard Away (IRE), Just Another One (IRE)

PLAY SMARTER

KILLALOAN was an easy winner over C&D 3 weeks ago and could have more to come now handicapping so looks the way to go. Mack The Man lurks on a very tempting mark now fitted with headgear and is interesting. Filanderer and Book of Secrets are a couple of others to note.

The Result

Gamble Responsibly

Safer