Eventmasters Catering Services Handicap Hurdle

Not seen since a creditable fifth to Solomn Grundy at Newbury in November but can go well fresh, as he showed when winning at Market Rasen last May after a break of almost a year. Stays well and whilst he handles soft ground, all wins have come on good to soft/good ground and that's a concern today. More likelier winners in the field.

Easy winner of a Carlisle bumper on debut and current connections bought him for 190,000 guineas not long after. Not disgraced in any of his last three starts, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow in October and then an eight-length fifth to the improving Wholestone at Cheltenham, sticking on well to the task after the last. Drop back in trip possibly against him next time at Wincanton, and this step back up to 3m will suit. Not out of this, and should be considered.

Has a good record at Doncaster (213) and showed a good attitiude in forst time cheekpieces at Wincanton last time, carrying top weight to a short-head victory over Mondello. Handicapper hasn't overreacted to that, putting him up 5lb for it, and it still leaves him on a fair looking mark on his novice hurdle win here from last January when he beat the now 140+ rated Ami Desbois. Should stay this trip and another to consider in an open race.

Softer the ground the better for this son of Authorized, and he looked to take a step back in the right direction when second at Ascot to Kalondra, travelling well through the field with the winner and only just getting run out of it. This step up in trip will suit, and although raised 3lb for that Ascot effort, it still leaves him 5lb below his initial handicapping mark. Another with chances.

Form seems to have taken a turn for the worse this winter, finishing well beaten behind Cloudy Too on his reappearance after five months off at Uttoxeter in November and then doing no better when pulled up at Warwick in January. Still looks a few pounds too high in the handicap as well, ands this simply looks too tough.

Remains unexposed after just the eight starts, but this looks a confidence booster back over hurdles after two poor efforts over fences this winter, never jumping with any confidence at Lingfield on his latest start. Not badly treated if defeat of Label Des Obeaux at Kempton last February is taken at face value, but soft ground here may not suit and has a bit to prove now.

Now back on the same mark as when winning a similar grade of contest at Fontwell back in 2015, but there's been little to cheer about since and although not beaten that far on latest start, was never really in it. Takes a big step up in trip here as well and simply too much to prove at present.

Debut for Peter Bowen today, and although yard do get the occasional first time winner when coming from another yard, they do tend to take their time and get to know the horse before winning with them. Was a length second to Might Bite back in a hurdle back in 2015, but that run is a distant memory based on efforts of last year. Shrewd yard will get him winning this spring/summer once ground quickens up, but an unlikely winner today.

Only had the seven starts for Nigel Twiston-Davies so can do better, but not really progressing since going handicapping and dropped another 2lb for latest effort when plodding on into third at Uttoxeter, well behind the principals. Difficult to know whether this step back up in trip will help (no stayers in the family) and soft ground probably not ideal either. Needs to turn things around, and difficult to see why that should happen today.

Tends to go from the front and to that end, might get an easy lead today, but form had taken a nosedive when last seen, pulling up after a poor effort at Sedgefield in November. Has had a break since and has gone well fresh in the past, which offers some hope here, and mark looks fine, but meets some progressive rivals here and not hard to think there will be something too good for him.

Very interesting, having had just the three runs over hurdles and gives the impression this big step up in trip will suit (plenty of stayers in the family), having been outpaced at Huntingdon (taken wide throughout) and Towcester on his last two starts. Goes handicapping on a basement mark, yard do very well with their hurdlers here (42% strike rate) and have a 20% strike rate with first time handicappers too. All adds up to a big run today.