Crystal Services Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 9m 39.2s

Holly Bush Henry^b⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-5| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 122

5/4

Yard going well just now and did his bit with a win at Worcester last week. Up 7lb tackles a bit further today, but to be respected and not overtaxed in this company.

Form: 3-96651

Bugsie Malone¹⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 121

9/2

Took to fences in good style earlier this year and should have no issues with the trip. Absence since April a concern though.

Form: 445122-

Mercers Court¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 120| C

10/1

Claims on the pick of his form but has to noted that he is a better chaser than hurdler and comes here with a bit to prove.

Form: 1F32-4P

Linguine^b¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: S Durack| OR: 115

17/2

On a handy mark and sharpened up by recent spins on the Flat. Needs to bounce back to something like his best and needs to post a better effort than his solitary previous visit to this course.

Form: 2220-36

Kentford Heiress¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 113

6/1

Has stamina in abundance and been in good heart of late; so should have no issues with the return to 3m. Sound claims from just 3lb higher than her last winning mark.

Form: 534-522

Byron Blue^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Dave Crosse| T: B Barr| OR: 112

6/1

Put in his place by a useful looking recruit of Dan Skeleton's latest but time may tell there was no disgrace in that defeat. Course debut likely to be in the thick of the action if handling the tight turns and undulations of the surface.

Form: 04-6212

Forecasts

Holly Bush Henry (5/4), Bugsie Malone (9/2), Kentford Heiress (6/1), Byron Blue (6/1), Linguine (17/2), Mercers Court (10/1)

It could be worth chancing a small stakes investment on BYRON BLUE even though his best form has come on flatter surfaces than he'll encounter here. Holly Bush Henry faces no easy task on these terms but arrives here in good form and should go close if the 7lb penalty doesn't take too much of a toll. Kentford Heiress has no issues about the trip or ground and looks best placed to capitalise if her main rivals drop below the expected standard.