Russell Worth Solicitors 20th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 4m 19.93s

The Gipper³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 134

10/1

Reverts to hurdles after two abortive attempts over fences on ground much faster than ideal. Looks feasibly treated judged on his Chepstow victory in February and has his optimum conditions for this. Yard in form.

Form: F251-2F

Brave Eagle²²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Ned Curtis⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133

10/3

Landed two minor novice events last term and his defeat of the 115-rated Oxwich Bay at Ludlow factors in an awful lot of improvement. That may account for the presence of a claimer on board and notable yard are 4-10 with hurdlers here since 2013.

Form: 33/11-

Azzerti³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 130

11/2

Landed minor races at Towcester and Sandown last year. Appears handicapped on a literal reading of his second to High Bridge at Newbury and that probably flatters him. Hard to settle and the hood is now removed.

Form: 31213-7

Persian Delight^t²⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| D

7/2

Up 7lb for a narrow Wincanton victory and he did not appear to have that much in hand. Earmarked for a chasing campaign this winter and yard 23-69 with hurdlers here over past five seasons.

Form: 17/231-

Speredek^p²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 129| C| D

11/4

A drop in trip, change of tactics and the fitting of cheekpieces transformed him into a useful handicap chaser last winter. Likely to have plenty of use made of him but has to prove his fitness under a career high mark.

Form: 6/PP111-

Cleni Wells^p1,h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: M Hill| OR: 120

11/2

Scored in higher grade during the summer but not as good since and this handicap mark may be high enough. However, jockey booking looks interesting and there are no potentially well treated opponents. Cheekpieces now added to hood.

Form: 21P033

Non-Runners

Unison¹

Weight: 12-3| Age: 7

T: J Scott J: Matt Griffiths

Forecasts

Speredek (11/4), Brave Eagle (10/3), Persian Delight (7/2), Azzerti (11/2), Cleni Wells (11/2), The Gipper (10/1), Unison (16/1)

Brave Eagle could be anything but his last victory was over an extra 3f and his overall form does not warrant his current handicap mark. Persian Delight and Speredek may need this prior to campaigning over fences. The Gipper has ideal conditions but faces a stiff task in trying to concede 14lb to CLENI WELLS. Richard Johnson's mount is not particularly well handicapped but he looks less harshly treated than the rest of these and his last two runs prove him to be in good shape.