188bet.co.uk Conditional Jockeys' Training Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 6m 18.9s

Royale Knight²⁸⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 119| D

7/1

Decent staying chaser on his day and finish fourth in the Scottish Grand National in 2016. Unraced since finishing well beaten in the Welsh equivalent last December and held off a 3lb higher mark in a handicap hurdle on seasonal debut last year.

Form: 54/5640-

Alf 'n' Dor^p,t¹⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 119

7/2

Winner on heavy ground in a handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Ffos Las in March but well beaten on good ground the last twice and would likely appreciate any overnight rain.

Form: 45134-4

Special Prep^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 112| D

9/4

Dual point-to-point winner in the spring and ran well in all four starts under rules since. Beaten 2¼L in a maiden hurdle over 2m4f at Uttoxeter (good) last time out and this step up in trip should suit on handicap debut.

Form: 1-13434

Marienstar⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Teal⁽⁶⁾| T: N B King| OR: 110| D

5/2

Winner of a selling event at Stratford (good-to-soft) over an extended 2m on final run for Alex Dunn back in May. Best effort since joining this yard came when third over 2m3f at Warwick (good) recently and she steps up in trip today.

Form: F-01363

Serpico^t1¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Greatrex| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 108| BF

11/2

Seven race maiden and finished 3L second in first time blinkers (left off today) at Fontwell (2m3f, good-to-soft) in March. Well beaten subsequently and debuts for a new yard today.

Form: F59525-

Non-Runners

Cottersrock⁴¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: M Keighley J: Harry Stock

Forecasts

Special Prep (9/4), Marienstar (5/2), Alf 'n' Dor (7/2), Serpico (11/2), Royale Knight (7/1), Cottersrock (8/1)

Handicap debutant SPECIAL PREP is less exposed than most of his rivals here and can make a winning handicap debut today. The dual point-to-point victor should appreciate this step up in trip and is taken to get the better of Royale Knight who has some good chase form to his name in the past and is rated significantly lower over hurdles. Alf 'n' Dor would probably prefer the ground softer than is forecast today and can take third under James Bowen.