Coral Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 6m 18.90s

Knight Of Noir^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 147| BF| D

7/2

Had looked useful as a novice but rather lost his way until ending a long losing run at Aintree in May and then following up off a 10lb (140) higher mark at Worcester. Tried back over fences last time (odds-on runner-up) and may face a tough test off 147 here.

Form: PP3-112

Matorico^p,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 138

8/1

Never really taken off over hurdles or on the Flat despite showing a lot of promise in both spheres especially after winning a big-field handicap at Cheltenham off 134. Fit from the Flat last time out he showed he still has ability although his mark can look a little high.

Form: 0013/U-4

Nautical Nitwit³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132

5/1

Certainly had a decent campaign last season winning three times with his best effort coming at Southwell in February. Managed to grab third over shorter here on his last start (may have needed run) and could well be capable of better here.

Form: F2810-3

Boruma³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: James Moffatt| OR: 125| C

7/2

Has shot up the weights for two wins in lesser company over shorter in May/June defying a mark of 117 on the second occasion before a further 8lb rise found him out in July in a 0-140. Off the same mark here life may well prove as tough again despite his love for this course.

Form: 67-411F

Court King^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 124

13/8

Running in a hood certainly proved to help him when winning three handicap hurdles last season off much lower marks. Two recent chase wins have shown he may be able to cope with this mark as also shown by his hood second returned to hurdles last time out.

Form: 19-P112

Tawseef²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114

16/1

Overall record over hurdles in Ireland read 1/27 but he managed a solid start for this yard when second here over slightly short in June when second to Boruma. Showed he still has ability on the Flat when winning at Carlisle on last start but more needed here.

Form: 06-8892

Forecasts

Court King (13/8), Knight Of Noir (7/2), Boruma (7/2), Nautical Nitwit (5/1), Matorico (8/1), Tawseef (16/1)

Most if not all of this field have work to do off their marks and it’s quite a tricky puzzle to sort out with course specialist Boruma having to show more improvement to win off this mark after falling last time out. Matorico is stepped up a little in trip here but he’ll need to show that he can improve for it and Tawseef despite coming from a stable in form has to cope with being a long way out of the handicap. Court King would have a good chance if he continues his improvement back over hurdles again while Nautical Nitwit may provide some value in the market if he’s come on for his last run around here. KNIGHT OF NOIR always threatened to be a good horse and he’s now showing that and despite his defeat last time over fences and a stiff looking mark he may be able to show his touch of class here.