Kingston Smith 'A Nose For Business' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 44.8s

Hollywood Road^b²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: D E Cantillon| OR: 127| D

4/1

Had a busy, but productive spell on the Flat since his last appearance over hurdles. A decisive winner of a 2m Huntingdon novices hurdle in April, he faces a much stiffer task in this grade, but has an excellent young 7lb claimer booked to ride.

Form: 2118-

Cool Macavity⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122| D

7/4

Useful hurdler (five time winner), but hasn't seen all that much action since May 2016, with just three starts on the Flat since then. His Newbury return in August was his first start for 12 months, so whilst on a fair mark that tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 8031/04-

Raven's Tower¹⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 122| D

11/2

With the exception of a run at Worcester in June 2016, he's not seen hurdles since March 2015, having been campaigned over fences with a degree of success. No problems with trip or ground, so interesting to see how he fares on seasonal bow.

Form: 13737P-

Surf And Turf^p³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: R Hobson| OR: 120| D

9/1

Capable veteran; a nine time career winner from 52 starts. Still 6lb higher than when winning over hurdles at Hexham in June (2m4f good), but most likely should appreciate the switch back from fences.

Form: U7-144P

Sailors Warn^p,t¹⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 117| BF| D

3/1

Now rated 10lb above his last winning mark (2m½f good to firm at Stratford in June), but that was a fairly emphatic success and he represents a trainer in form. However, beaten off this mark at Cartmel latest, and life looks much tougher now.

Form: 3523-16

Non-Runners

Castafiore²⁰⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 4

T: C E Longsdon J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Cool Macavity (7/4), Sailors Warn (3/1), Hollywood Road (4/1), Raven's Tower (11/2), Castafiore (8/1), Surf And Turf (9/1)

A small and compact field, but not the easiest race to solve. Both Hollywood Road and Cool Macavity resume their hurdling careers after racing on the Flat of late. The former is certainly in better current form than the latter, who has been raced sparingly by Nicky Henderson in recent years. However, the horse of most interest is RAVEN'S TOWER. He has proved himself as a fair 2m handicap chaser, and appears to be the type of horse that is best caught fresh. Assuming a prolonged spell over fences hasn't diminished his prowess over hurdles, he could well prove the pick in an open contest.