Unibet Elite Hurdle (Grade 2 Limited Handicap)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 48.2s

Charbel^t²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 149| BF

5/1

Five time winner in total including twice over hurdles as a novice during the 2015/16 season. Spent last season chasing and interesting to see how he fares under top weight on his return to hurdles.

Form: 5/512F3-

Coeur de Lion²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Kevin Dowling⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A King| OR: 144

12/1

Dual winner over hurdles last season and has been running well on the Flat since. Finished third at York (good) over an extended 2m last time out and makes his return to jumping today.

Form: 12217-

Zubayr⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| CD

9/2

Twice a winner over hurdles and just touched off in a valuable Grade 2 handicap at Ayr (good-to-soft) in April. Has won and placed on the Flat since and represents a leading stable today.

Form: F5062-5

Flying Tiger³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: Nick Williams| OR: 141

4/1

Winner of the Fred Winter at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in March. Well held in a Grade 1 at Aintree (good) subsequently but shaped well in a Group 3 contest on the Flat at Ascot (1m4f, good-to-soft) last time out. One to note in this contest.

Form: P61414-

Lough Derg Spirit²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

5/2

Winner of two of his four starts under rules including over an extended 1m7f at Musselburgh (good) in February. Pulled up at Aintree (2m4f, good) in a Grade 1 contest last time out and this drop in trip should hold no issues.

Form: 3/1141P-

Melodic Rendezvous^p²⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 135| C

20/1

Winner of this track back in 2013 and successful over C&D the following February. Sole success since came when odds-on for a novice chase and others make more appeal.

Form: P/24P45-

London Prize^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 134

4/1

Dual hurdles winner and showed his versatility when winning the Northumberland Plate on the AW at Newcastle in July. Subsequently finished second in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (2m2f, good) last month and wears cheekpieces for the first time today.

Form: 12F17-8

Forecasts

Lough Derg Spirit (5/2), London Prize (4/1), Flying Tiger (4/1), Zubayr (9/2), Charbel (5/1), Coeur de Lion (12/1), Melodic Rendezvous (20/1)

LONDON PRIZE is fit from the Flat and can follow up last months second in a valuable handicap in that sphere by making a winning return to hurdling with cheekpieces worn for the first time today. The selection receives weight from all of his rivals today and can take this at the chief expense of Lough Derg Spirit who can put a disappointing effort at Aintree in the spring behind him by claiming second ahead of Flying Tiger who is another return to hurdles after a Flat outing last month.