Betfred Wishing You A Merry Christmas Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:51 | Winning time: 6m 22.7s

Eminent Poet²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 132

9/1

Impressive strike rate on heavy ground with 4-7 so far from 2m-3m1f. Just 2lb higher today than when scoring at Lingfield in March. Held by handicapper in both starts this term, but could be very competitive from this mark with 7lb claimed.

Form: 1813-95

Isaacstown Lad⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: N G Richards| OR: 132| CD

6/4

Relishes deep ground and won similar race over C&D on heavy in 2015. Only win since also on heavy at Ayr in February from 1lb lower than today. Put in a very good prep for this back there last month and should be primed to go very close.

Form: 7/3424-3

Becky The Thatcher²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 131

14/1

Has a good record over hurdles, winning half of her six starts. Showed improvement to win at 33-1 at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) last month when fit from Flat. Decent chance that she will stay this far, though unproven on heavy and 11lb rise to overcome.

Form: 1U221-1

De Vous A Moi⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129

16/1

Mudlark who stepped up successfully to 2m6f at Newcastle in February (heavy). Well held from 3lb higher at Uttoxeter on only other hurdles start since then and also over fences last time. Capable of better than that and couldn't rule him out.

Form: 69319-7

Southfield Royale²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 128

11/2

Has won a bumper, two novices' hurdles and two novices' chases, though not yet any race in handicap company. 19lb lower here than his chase mark of a year ago after a poor run of form and now back over hurdles. Looks to have a stiff task.

Form: 70F0-PP

Away For Slates²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| BF

3/1

Acts on soft, though yet to show he is as good on heavy. Looks to just about stay this far and has 3¾L to find with Becky The Thatcher on their recent Wetherby running, for which he is 4lb better off. Claims if he goes as well on this ground.

Form: 1P51/42

Tomkevi^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 117| C

12/1

Won around here on heavy ground (2m3f) a couple of years ago and successfully stepped up to 3m (good) over fence at Hexham in May. Races from same mark as that today, so not ruled out, though will probably need to eek out a bit extra over hurdles.

Form: P2-157U

Forecasts

Isaacstown Lad (6/4), Away For Slates (3/1), Southfield Royale (11/2), Eminent Poet (9/1), Tomkevi (12/1), Becky The Thatcher (14/1), De Vous A Moi (16/1)

A competitive race in prospect with Eminent Poet looking poised to return to better form with conditions to suit, though preference is for ISAACSTOWN LAD. The Nicky Richards string is in good form and this C&D winner also goes well on heavy ground and should be spot on for this after a nice reappearance run. Becky The Thatcher and Away For Slates are weighted to finish closer than at Wetherby and the one that handles these deeper conditions better should come out on top. De Vous A Moi has been out of sorts lately but could stage a revival, while Tomkevi is on a winning chase mark, though has not been quite as good over hurdles to date.