Happy Birthday Vanya Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 14.2s

Viserion²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118| D

4/1

Dual novice hurdle winner last term. Pulled up on handicap debut to end last term and last on return this term but showed mark is realistic when beat only 2¾L into sixth latest. Expecting a bold bid here.

Form: 621-P86

Cape Of Glory^v²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 117| BF

7/4

In good form lately and finished second in hurdle races here and at Kelso last twice. Step back in trip no issue but never encountered soft ground so that will be the doubt here.

Form: 13-622

Mcvicar^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Davies| OR: 111| D

20/1

Lost his way toward the end of a busy flat campaign and was pulled up back over hurdles last time. Questions to answer now and in any case this could be on the sharp side for him.

Form: P33/51-P

Dark And Dangerous^b⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 105| CD

25/1

Won four times over course and distance starts last season. Disappointing in four races since the latest of those including two races this season but on workable mark again if this course revitalises him.

Form: 11FP-48

Discoverie^b,h²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 105| CD

8/1

Six of his eight career wins come at this track (ran here 14 times). Struggling latest when fell after a layoff and 2017 form in general does give him quite a bit to find.

Form: 1182-5U

Mac Cennetig⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 104

2/1

Stable debutant who ran the best race of seven career starts for Joseph O'Brien last time when beaten a nose at Thurles. 11lb higher here but could be open to more improvement given youth and inexperience.

Form: 30-6642

Emma Beag^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 102

20/1

Lone win in Ireland came over 3m at Sligo and generally campaigned over such trip. Tailed off on stable debut over this trip last month which is surely inadequate.

Form: 5F75-70

Forecasts

Cape Of Glory (7/4), Mac Cennetig (2/1), Viserion (4/1), Discoverie (8/1), Mcvicar (20/1), Emma Beag (20/1), Dark And Dangerous (25/1)

VISERION showed plenty of ability in his novice campaign last term and bounced back to form last time out at Carlisle. He wasn't beaten far and gets 1lb back so can only go better here, he gets the nod. While likely soft ground is a concern for Cape Of Glory conditions aren't likely to be bottomless so he can't be ruled out in current form. Dark And Dangerous is one of a pair of course specialists not to be taken lightly back at their favourite venue.