Brian Martin Pallets Wood Chipping Claiming Hurdle

Off time: 12:42 | Winning time: 3m 46.2s

Serenity Now¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 119| D

3/1

Dual hurdles winner but pulled up on his most recent start in this sphere back in May. Fair efforts on the Flat the last twice and interesting in this contest.

Form: 203F/F-P

Iniesta^v¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108| D

5/2

Justified favouritism when successful in a selling contest over an extended 2m at Stratford (good-to-soft) last time out. Breaking his hurdling duck on that occasion and one to note today.

Form: 39/2671

Akula^p⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: B Leavy| OR: 103| BF| D

8/1

Winner of a couple of selling handicaps earlier this year but disappointing since. Likely to strip fitter for his Wolverhampton ninth following a break.

Form: 421173-

Ascendant¹³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 122| D

11/8

Eight time hurdles winner and completing a double when winning a claiming hurdle over 2m4f at Worcester (good) in June. Well beaten on the Flat subsequently and returns from over four months off today.

Form: P25F-11

Eastern Lady^h,t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R J Price

25/1

Maiden after ten starts but had just two over hurdles and put in a fair effort when finishing fourth over C&D on good ground last time out.

Form: 84

Demand Respect^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: L Hurley

50/1

Well beaten in two starts over hurdles since joining this yard earlier this year. Pulled up here last month and others make more appeal.

Form: 0P

Desi Daru^b1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: C Allen

33/1

Six race maiden and well held in all starts on the Flat and a similar result on hurdling debut over C&D a month ago. Wears blinkers for the first time today.

Form: 60

Forecasts

Ascendant (11/8), Iniesta (5/2), Serenity Now (3/1), Akula (8/1), Eastern Lady (25/1), Desi Daru (33/1), Demand Respect (50/1)

ASCENDANT can complete a hat-trick over hurdles by taking this opening contest for trainer Johnny Farrelly. The veteran returns from a break having disappointed on the Flat when last on the racecourse and is taken to get the better of top weight Serenity Now who returns to hurdles on ground that should suit. Of the remainder Iniesta was a selling hurdle winner last time out and can claim third on this occasion.