Richard Birch dissects the feature handicap hurdle at Wetherby

3.45 WetherbyLike Racing TV On Facebook Handicap Hurdle | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV

Tom Symonds has enjoyed an excellent few weeks, highlighted by Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle success with Song For Someone.

He saddles arguably the most interesting runner, Fazayte, in this eight-runner line-up, and it would be no surprise if his unexposed five-year-old delivered a career-best.

Fazayte graduates to handicaps on a mark of 113, and there is enough evidence to believe that could be an attractive rating.

The form of his last-time-out Carlisle third behind Sao Maxence and Diodorus has been franked by the runner-up, who landed a Wetherby novice hurdle this month.

Bobndave seems sure to make his presence felt off a low weight, but he left the impression in several starts last summer that he lacks killer instinct.

Perhaps a 228-day break will see him resume a better performer and, if that proves the case, he'll go close.

Gennady won two handicap hurdles for Keith Dalgleish, the second off a mark of 117. He races off 4lb higher on just his second start for Sam England, and there wasn't a great deal of encouragement to be gleaned last time out behind Main Fact.

Present From Dubai would come firmly into calculations based on his fluent victory over Sastruga at Uttoxeter in December.

He had no problem with heavy ground that day, and boasts one eyecatching line of form when runner-up to Nube Negra in January 2018.

Present From Dubai underperformed at Newbury last time when beaten 31 lengths behind Le Ligerien, but has been dropped 2lb and looks feasibly treated.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

What the stats say

Becky Smith: in-form amateur rides LucouCredit: Patrick McCann

Amateur rider Becky Smith has enjoyed two winners from her last seven rides, including a well-timed challenge to get up on the line aboard the Micky Hammond-trained Strike West at Catterick. They combine with Lucou.

What connections say

Sam England, trainer of Gennady
We're still learning about him but he's come on for his last run and this doesn't look as strong a race as last time.

Richard Phillips, trainer of Present From Dubai
He pulled quite hard at Newbury so we're putting a hood on, which seems to make him more relaxed. Two miles in soft ground should be to his liking having won at Uttoxeter on pretty deep going. He seems in good form and, although he's gone up a few pounds for his win, he was running a good race before getting tired at Newbury.

Tom Symonds, trainer of Fazayte
He has an interesting pedigree because he's out of a sister to Cyrname but he's still quite weak. He'll end up wanting three miles or at least an intermediate trip. He was a bit keen at Carlisle but the front end of that race has worked out quite well and the two protagonists pulled well clear, which I like to see.

Sue Smith, trainer of Bobndave
He seems in pretty good order and he ran well without winning last year. I expect him to improve and he seems to cope with soft ground.

Micky Hammond, trainer of Lucou
He probably came across from France with too high a handicap mark and the ground was too quick but we're coming here to run on ground that's more suitable and he's now more acclimatised. He's running as if he might want a bit further but we like him and he has a good attitude.
Reporting by Scott Burton

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