Watch Racing UK On Sky 432 Conditional Jockeys' Selling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 34.00s

Minstrel Royal^t1¹¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 121| D

9/2

Best on good ground and finally off the mark on his penultimate start for Nicky Henderson. Disappointed from this same mark latest, but this is a significant ease in grade and a big run cannot be discounted in this company.

Form: 326P1-0

Raleagh Mountain^p1,t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Lewis Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 103| BF

9/4

Form during his time in Ireland creates the impression he has a race within him at some point. Two starts for current yard over fences has been promising and reverts to hurdles on a fair mark. Interesting candidate if supported in the betting.

Form: 56P-423

Halling's Wish^b¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Jason Nuttall⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 100| D

8/1

Form on the Flat is poor and not won over Jumps since his debut in the sphere in 2013. Best watched on his first start (over timber) of the current campaign .

Form: 22U9/45

Astrum^p,t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Harry Stock⁽³⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 96| CD

15/8

Good effort latest to finish second in an amateur riders race at Hexham. The ground was softer than today's predicted going but the gelding is versatile regarding the ground. Worth a check in the betting from 11lb lower than his last winning mark.

Form: 7-37962

Orion's Might^p,h²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 95

7/1

Plenty of experience over hurdles but hard to get right and just one win from 36 starts over timber is a little disconcerting. Form since his victory at Uttoxeter has been mixed and doesn't stand out as a very reliable proposition on recent form.

Form: 217730

Ocean Bentley¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: A W Carroll| OR: 95

33/1

Maiden under both codes and very little to be taken from his return to the fray on the Flat at Lingfield last month. That was his first start since October last year, so feasible he needed the run. Still hard to be enthused by his claims today.

Form: 5647-

Non-Runners

Jeremy's Jet¹²

Weight: 10-1| Age: 6

T: A W Carroll J: Jack Sherwood

Forecasts

Astrum (15/8), Raleagh Mountain (9/4), Minstrel Royal (9/2), Orion's Might (7/1), Halling's Wish (8/1), Jeremy's Jet (20/1), Ocean Bentley (33/1)

This is a significant enough ease in grade to give MINSTREL ROYAL the benefit of the doubt and he gets the nod despite being set to carry top weight. He was disappointing last so it may also be worth noting how the betting market reacts to Raleagh Mountain, who is going the right way for his new yard and certainly looks capable of paying his way. Astrum is well handicapped and is feared most from the remainder.