Actionclad Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 5m 32.50s

Robin Of Locksley^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 130| D

6/1

Has run over fences on his last three starts so it is interesting to see connections switch back to hurdles. That said, he is 15lb higher than when last successful over timber so he has little room for error.

Form: 1F5-2P3

Cave Top³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 128| CD

11/8

Progressive performer who has won two of his last three races in handicap company. Finds himself 18lb higher than for the first of those successes, but won over C&D last time, acts on heavy and is likely to take plenty of beating.

Form: 335-121

Eaton Hill⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125| D

11/4

Won a couple of novice hurdles earlier this year, but has been well held in handicap hurdles at Cheltenham and Ascot since making his return in the autumn, This is a much weaker contest and he showed he can act on this sort of surface in bumpers.

Form: 13P1-06

Crucial Role³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 125

3/1

Landed a Towcester maiden hurdle in May and has run with credit on both starts since returning to action last month. First time in a handicap and likely to be competitive.

Form: 34-P142

Non-Runners

Top Ville Ben¹

Weight: 12-5| Age: 5

T: P A Kirby J: A Nicol

Forecasts

Cave Top (11/8), Top Ville Ben (5/2), Eaton Hill (11/4), Crucial Role (3/1), Robin Of Locksley (6/1)

Robin Of Locksley has plenty to prove back over hurdles, but fellow top-weight Top Ville Ben is coming to the boil and has to be respected. This is an easier race than the last two Eaton Hill has contested and he could make his presence felt along with handicap debutant Crucial Role, but CAVE TOP is the most progressive of these and can defy his rise in the weights.