Ian Ogg analyses the last 10 renewals of the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle and picks out the key statistics.
Evan Williams and Nicky Henderson have both saddled back to back winners of the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle in the last decade.
The latter's Peace And Co looks too high in the weights while the former's Court Minstrel looks too long in the tooth. John Constable is of more interest for the Welsh handler having finished fourth from a higher mark last year but he is more exposed than a typical winner with 11 hurdles starts already to his name.
Multiculture and William H Bonney are among those that bypassed the spring festivals which have been such a good pointer to this race; removing such horses helps reduce the field size by around half.
Zubayr finished in front of a number of today's rivals when a close second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and looks a live player, as does stablemate High Secret who ran more than respectably in an Aintree Grade One when last out.
He was a stayer on the Flat and there is a slight question mark as to whether this tight track will be too sharp for him and the same is true of Song Light, a stablemate of Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Chesterfield, who is having his 17th start over obstacles.
The Ditcheat runners both have their share of weight though and preference is for LONDON PRIZE who did this column a favour in the Imperial Cup at Sandown on his penultimate start.
He was behind Zubayr at Ayr but gives the impression that there is still more to come from him in this sphere and has a 4lb swing in the weights in his favour for around four lengths.
It's by no means a negative that he has run well at the Merseyside circuit on the level and his dual purpose yard continues in good form; the six-year-old can reward each-way support.
Winners have been aged four, five (2), six (3) and seven (4).
Winners have carried between 9-11 and 11-5 with eight between 9-11 and 11-00.
Winners have been rated between 126 and 141 with eight between 128 and 137.
Winners have been priced between 4/1 and 25/1 with four successful at 16/1 +.
Three favourites have been successful with three placed.
Five winners finished in the first four on their preceding start.
Eight winners had run between four and nine times in the preceding season and up to this race; only two (of the 10) hadn't won during that time.
Only one winner had had more than 12 career starts over hurdles.
Six winners were novices and two second season hurdlers.
Five winners had either won or been placed in a contest rated class 1 or 2.
Nine winners had started their racing career on the Flat, five had ratings around 100.
Nine of the winners ran at one of the Festivals at Cheltenham, Aintree, Fairyhouse and Ayr.
