totepool Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 3m 42.22s

Dear Sire^h⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 137| C| D

9/2

Has flourished and looked progressive this season for new yard, winning four times over the summer. Given a break after below par effort at Chepstow in October. Drop in distance suits, but tough ask off top weight.

Form: 121154

Silver Concorde¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 133| CD

2/1

Won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2014 and belatedly getting act together over timber since joining this yard. Winner of maiden/novice events here (incl. C&D) recently and respected switched to handicaps.

Form: 2-52311

Beeno^h¹⁰³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 132

14/1

Notched a summer hat-trick over timber at Cartmel, seeing handicap mark rise 26lb as a result. Anything but disgraced at Kelso (2m, good) in Class 2 handicap in September when last out. Interesting contender.

Form: 2-41112

Traditional Dancer¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 126

6/1

Is now rated 5lb lower than when 1L runner-up in this contest 12 months ago, fit from recent Flat efforts and jockey takes another handy 5lb off. Case is fairly solid.

Form: P330-04

Apterix⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: B Ellison| OR: 125| D

10/1

Three wins last season over fences, well held in three runs back over timber earlier in the season but slipping down the weights now and cannot be crossed off readily.

Form: 316-036

Sir Chauvelin³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 125| CD

5/2

Twice won over C&D in juvenile hurdles in 2015/16 season, since reached decent level on the Flat (rated 99) and in winning form on the AW when last out in November. Looks to be on a decent mark back in this sphere.

Form: 13138/

Meadowcroft Boy²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 115| BF| D

20/1

Successful at Kelso (2m, good) in October following a wind operation, solid effort next time at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) but flopped back there more recently. Must bounce back.

Form: 5P-9129

Forecasts

Silver Concorde (2/1), Sir Chauvelin (5/2), Dear Sire (9/2), Traditional Dancer (6/1), Apterix (10/1), Beeno (14/1), Meadowcroft Boy (20/1)

Sir Chauvelin has two C&D wins under his belt from his novice days and he turned into a useful sort on the Flat since. He was in winning form when last spotted in that sphere in November and is potentially on a good mark now tackling jumps for the first time in 632 days. He is greatly respected but SILVER CONCORDE has impressed with two recent wins at the track, the 2014 Champion Bumper winner really getting things going for this yard. Now switched to handicaps, he potentially has more to offer yet. It would be foolish to write off Beeno, prolific at Cartmel this summer, while last year's second Traditional Dancer also makes solid appeal on today's terms.