Alfa Aggregate Products Golden Spurs Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 6m 17.5s

Tawseef⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134

5/2

Positively thriving for this yard, winning four times since August including twice over hurdles, recent Haydock effort over trip shorter than ideal (1¼L second of seven) bodes well and should be in the firing back up in distance.

Form: 212312

Bryden Boy⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 132| C| D

6/1

Gained four wins last season, improving through the campaign as he did. Goes on heavy ground but both efforts either side of summer break have been poor. Must bounce back to get involved.

Form: 21415-5

Catchamat³²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss C Walton⁽³⁾| T: J Walton| OR: 132

25/1

Won twice over hurdles at Newcastle in January after a promising fifth at Hexham. Could well have a big say if fully wound up on return to action but hasn't been left much wiggle room by opening handicap mark. Market check needed.

Form: 13/P511-

Monbeg Theatre^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 122

4/1

Very smart novice hurdler in 2015, had some issues since fell early in return from 674 days off over fences at Chepstow last month. Cannot rule out on old form but may need this.

Form: 20PU3/F

Western Rules²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 117

11/10

Looked a potentially useful hurdler in the 2015/16 campaign and won at Carlisle (2m3½f, heavy) in novices' company. Shaped well on return from long absence over this sort of trip at Wetherby 27 days ago and claims if building on that 7L defeat.

Form: 21324/4

Non-Runners

Ballyrock¹⁷³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 11

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Western Rules (11/10), Tawseef (5/2), Monbeg Theatre (4/1), Ballyrock (9/2), Bryden Boy (6/1), Catchamat (25/1)

WESTERN RULES was once a promising novice hurdler and he returned from a long absence with a credible run at Wetherby recently over this sort of trip on testing ground. He's had enough time to get over that run and, on his previous form, should be capable of winning races of this current rating and indeed higher. Tawseef has been in super form for connections since late summer and is the form pick while Catchamat is not to be underestimated on her handicap debut and could run a big race. Monbeg Theatre and Bryden Boy are capable of getting involved but do come with risks.