Bet At racinguk.com Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 29.0s

Cousin Oscar¹⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124| D

13/2

Put together back-to-back Bangor novices' hurdle wins with cut in the ground in February/March. though handicapper has had his measure in two subsequent runs in this sphere. 3lb drop won't harm, but this looks a tough ask conceding weight to all.

Form: 3211P-4

Zenafire⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: N P Madden| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 117| D

9/1

Another Bangor winner, having taken a handicap there (2m½f, good to soft) in May when 5lb lower. Has twice scored on the Flat since then, over 1m6f and 2m. Goes well on soft, though yet to race on heavy, but looks a leading player back over hurdles.

Form: 77324-1

Hint Of Grey^h¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D E Cantillon| OR: 117| D

12/1

Handles soft ground, unraced on heavy, though all of her winning form has been on good. Beaten just 2L from 1lb higher at Huntingdon in April, so she has the ability to have a say from this mark, though conditions clearly a concern.

Form: 112-124

Idder^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlotte Jones⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 114| CD

14/1

Scored over C&D (good) in a similar contest in May under Brian Hughes and from 2lb lower. Well below that both starts since and 10lb claimer now gets the leg up. Has a few things to prove, not least his ability to handle this ground.

Form: 423-160

Spectator³⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 109

16/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Kelso (good to firm) a year ago and improved on that when in the frame on his only subsequent start at Musselburgh. Yet to win when fresh or race on heavy, but has won on soft and initial mark looks fair. Market check advised.

Form: 713-

Barrys Jack⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 107| CD

4/7

Should relish these conditions and comes here on a hat-trick after wins in a novices' chase at Perth (2m, heavy) and a handicap hurdle here over C&D (soft) last time. Escapes a penalty for the latter and under the same pilot, he is the one to beat.

Form: 27-4211

Marlais³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Josh Wall⁽⁵⁾| T: A Whitehead| OR: 103

22/1

0-4 over hurdles so far, making the frame just once in a Worcester maiden hurdle (2m4f, good) about a year ago. Dropped 5lb since being well beaten on his handicap debut at Uttoxeter last month and has plenty to prove.

Form: 260-6

Forecasts

Barrys Jack (4/7), Cousin Oscar (13/2), Zenafire (9/1), Hint Of Grey (12/1), Idder (14/1), Spectator (16/1), Marlais (22/1)

BARRYS JACK is in rare form at present and is difficult to oppose given that he has winning form on the ground, at this track and comes here unpenalised for winning a conditionals' contest last time. Zenafire has been in super form too and is on a cross-code four-timer here, so he is feared. Spectator looks to be on a fair mark for his handicap introduction and market support would make him very interesting, while Cousin Oscar could run into the money, but it will be some effort if he can win from this mark on the forecast ground. Hint Of Grey would be of more interest on faster ground.