Ferneyhill Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 4m 33.0s

Aristo Du Plessis³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J Ewart| OR: 139

7/1

A talented hurdler who relishes jumping, but was crucified by the handicapper for a run of victories between February 2015 and January 2016. He's struggled down South against much better rivals (including in the Elite Hurdle) and may need his mark of 139 to fall even further to fully regain his zest for racing.

Form: 16-5358

Nuts Well¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R D Day⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 133

4/1

A useful novice who registered a pair of testing ground victories at Newcastle last spring when going handicapping (off 122 and 129). Runner up on his return at Wetherby in October, but below par when highly tried since including in the Hogmaneigh hurdle at Musselburgh on New Year's Day.

Form: 583221

Meadowcroft Boy⁴³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 129

14/1

Unbeaten in bumpers, and looked to be headed for the top when a wide margin winner on hurdles debut at Carlisle in December 2013. Progress slowed by injury and didn't look the same horse in eight starts thereafter. Returns again here from another significant lay off (since November 2015) with major doubts as to whether he'll ever fulfil his undoubted potential.

Form: 2/93-555

Sleepy Haven¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 129

7/2

Had won off a mark of 132 at Kempton in January 2015, but had taken his time to return to the winners enclosure until finally given some slack by the assessor, and a winner off 124 at Leicester last month. This is a better race, but this surface will hold no fears, and not discounted with a 5lb rise now that he's regained that winning groove.

Form: 129442

Teo Vivo^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 125

5/2

Progressive at around this time last year, notably when scoring from this mark at Musselburgh in February 2016. Started this year over fences at Sedgefield, but those plans were sharply shelved, and back to hurdles when third to old foe Jonny Delta (over further) last time at Musseburgh. Return to this trip will suit, previous C&D winner (December 2014).

Form: 22164-8

Marcus Antonius¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113

4/1

Course winner over 2m2f late last month on less testing ground, with that success also coming in a much weaker contest than this. Whether this gelding will be suited by dropping back in trip is questionable, but he's earned his place up in this line up under the same 7lb claimer.

Form: 12F443

Non-Runners

Ifandbutwhynot⁴³

Weight: 10-9| Age: 11

T: T D Easterby J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Teo Vivo (5/2), Sleepy Haven (7/2), Nuts Well (4/1), Marcus Antonius (4/1), Aristo Du Plessis (7/1), Ifandbutwhynot (7/1), Meadowcroft Boy (14/1)

The Aristo Du Plessis of 12 months back could literally carry these rivals on his back, with his hurdling technique a joy to behold. However, he's lost his way and needs to show more zest for racing, but his time will gradually come again. In many ways, this has also happened at a lower level to Sleepy Haven, but he's clearly in better order now and has a good chance of following up his Leicester victory off just a 5lbs higher mark. However, the vote goes to C&D winner TEO VIVO who could be well suited to tackling this trip over hurdles for the first time this season from his last winning mark of 125. 1. Teo Vivo 2. Sleepy Haven 3. Aristo Du Plessis