SW Catering Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 3m 37.50s

Comanche Chieftain^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 130| D

7/2

Adapted really well to hurdling and has already paid his way with a string of good efforts so far this season. Has shot up the ratings as a result though (now 20lb higher in the weights). So faces another stiff test on these terms.

Form: 2-11213

Lord Huntingdon³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 123| D

7/2

Showed a good attitude to win at Bangor last month and has to be respected from just 6lb higher this time around. Yard doing well with a selective amount of runners at present (as evidenced at Newmarket on Saturday), so has to be of interest here.

Form: 1U2F-41

Free Stone Hill^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ian Popham| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| BF| D

4/1

Landed a quick brace at the end of spring but has been a tad frustrating off revised marks since. Starting to look exposed and while he should run his race, it would also be no surprise to see him pipped to the post if he runs up to recent form.

Form: 1-13223

Regulation^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: N B King| OR: 117| D

5/1

Last won in October 2015 (now on a 3lb lower mark) and seems to have lost his way at present. Recent form only poor but should at least be suited by stepping back to the minimum distance.

Form: 743-546

East Indies²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116| CD

11/4

Won a maiden for John Gosden before eventually joining his current yard last September - won on this card last year. Sure to to be sharper for a blow out on the level at Epsom last month and entitled to plenty of respect on these terms.

Form: 1P3862-

Forecasts

East Indies (11/4), Comanche Chieftain (7/2), Lord Huntingdon (7/2), Free Stone Hill (4/1), Regulation (5/1)

LORD HUNTINGDON won in good style at Bangor in August and appears to have been found a very good chance of following up here. The mandatory rise in the weights for that effort looks fair, so it seems reasonable to expect another bold bid whilst his yard remains in good form. Comanche Chieftain has crept up the weights after a string of consistent efforts but has to merit a second look in a field of this size. Free Stone Hill is another reliable yardstick but has been expensive to follow and comes with risks attached. East Indies, a winner on this card last year, is also worth a betting check.