Arkle Finance Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 3m 59.26s

City Dreamer³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 132| D

5/2

Chasing a hat-trick after victories at Plumpton and Market Rasen of late (both on good). The latter was very much an improved effort and he deserves to take his chance here in a race that his trainer won in 2011. Handled soft ground on the Flat.

Form: 2P311

American Craftsman¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| CD

10/1

Sprung a surprise on his hurdles debut over C&D last month, when beating an Alan King-trained runner. Clearly has scope to do better still, though he will need a decent step forward if he is to follow-up at this level. Best on good/good to firm.

Form: 1

Eneko³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| D

11/4

Won over 1m4f on fast ground on the Flat in France in June before joining this trainer and scoring on his hurdles debut at Perth (2m, heavy) in September. Should come on for that and conditions of no concern, so an improved run anticipated.

Form: 1

Malaya¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134

5/4

Won a couple of French hurdles in the spring, including in Listed company on very soft ground. Ran well on his debut for this trainer at Chepstow last month and looks capable of going close with her sex allowance a positive for potential supporters.

Form: 12-12

Forecasts

Malaya (5/4), City Dreamer (5/2), Eneko (11/4), American Craftsman (10/1)

Already proven in Listed company in France and with her sex allowance providing further assistance, MALAYA looks an attractive proposition in this. Paul Nicholls' filly put up another good effort in defeat last time and now that she has that under her belt after a break, she could prove too good for the other trio. City Dreamer is the best of the rest on what we have seen so far and is not dismissed lightly given his good recent form. Conditions don't look ideal for recent C&D scorer American Craftsman and Eneko is better suited to some cut underfoot, so he might prove to be next best.