The 3.22 at Wexford is only an eight-runner handicap hurdle, but it is still a race with a bit of tension to it. The market will naturally focus on One Big Boum, and on pure HRB numbers that makes perfect sense. He tops the figures on 308, arrives in winning form, and looks the most…

This Class 5 handicap hurdle over two miles doesn’t look a strong race on paper and the ratings largely confirm that. With an average mark of just 91, this is more about race position and finishing ability than outright class.The Comment Shaper suggests there is no natural front runner in the field, but several horses…

Handicap Hurdle (0–100)Low-grade Irish handicap hurdles like this are usually decided less by class and more by race shape and who finishes best off the pace. With 20 runners and a predicted strong early tempo, this looks exactly that type of contest.The Comment Shaper flags two front runners – Rebel Cowgirl and Rolly Bowley Boy…

This Class 4 handicap hurdle looks set up for a properly run race, and the pace map is the first place to start. Comment Shaper highlights three confirmed front runners and multiple prominent racers, producing a strong early pressure score and a high risk of a pace collapse. In races like this, those forcing it…

This looks a fairly typical Irish novice handicap hurdle where the ratings tell a fairly clear story. Harty Cup tops the HRB figures by a decent margin (253.9) and also brings the best last run rating (88.4) into the race. In this grade that sort of figure usually makes a horse the one to beat.He…

A small field of seven goes to post for this Class 4 handicap chase and the early pace looks guaranteed. The Comment Shaper flags three front runners — Geryville, No But I Will and Empty Nest — creating a strong early race shape. With pressure up front, the tempo should be honest from the start.On…

This is a typical big-field 0-100 handicap hurdle where plenty have chances on paper, but not many make proper appeal once you dig into the numbers and the likely shape of the race.The starting point is Aswellasabentley. He tops the HRB ratings on 231.3, and that is not a narrow lead either. In this grade,…

This looks like a typical big-field Class 5 staying handicap where the pace and stamina will decide the outcome more than raw ability. Exeter is a stiff track and races over nearly three miles here often fall apart late, so horses that finish strongly are usually the ones to side with.The HRB ratings put Special…

This is a typical Irish maiden hurdle where the majority of the field are lightly raced and still trying to figure things out. With no official ratings to work with, the HRB ratings and race comments become the key tools, and they point fairly clearly towards one horse.Eliodam Sets the StandardEliodam sits miles clear on…

A small field of seven lines up for this mares’ maiden hurdle over 2m3½f on good to soft ground. These races are often won by mares already showing solid placed form rather than newcomers, and the market usually centres around the obvious contenders. That looks to be the case again here.On the HRB ratings, Joans…