Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 2m 33.53s

(5)

Fire Fighting^b²⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 104| D

5/1

A typically consistent, tough sort from this yard with 11 wins to his name. Off the track since May and usually better with some runs under his belt. Likes to dictate the pace and his rivals will be happy for him to do so.

Form: 5/25738-

(6)

Gwafa⁴⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Fran Berry| T: P R Webber| OR: 92| BF| D

8/1

Won the Swinton Hurdle in 2016 but has only had two runs since and has been sidelined 15 months. Weighted on the best of his Flat form and likely to need this with bigger hurdling prizes in his sights this spring.

Form: 521224/

(4)

Al Hamdany²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: K Shoemark| T: M Botti| OR: 95| BF| D

9/4

Time may show this Kempton winner faced an impossible task last time in conceding plenty of weight to a progressive Godolphin horse. Just touched off in similar company on previous start and will appreciate the pace which the topweight will set.

Form: 525122-

(3)

Burcan⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: M Botti| OR: 91| CD

5/2

Lightly raced for one of his age but 3-6 on Polytrack and two of the defeats saw him narrowly fail. Disappointing in a Newcastle claimer on penultimate start, but better when stepped back up to this trip last time.

Form: 141/723-

(2)

Grand Inquisitor^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 88

14/1

Last handicap win came off 13lb lower and he has only beaten one rival in three previous starts on AW tracks. First run at the trip and he probably has too many questions to answer.

Form: 334418-

(1)

Lawless Secret^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Ryan Powell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 86

4/1

Caused an upset on debut but later proved that to be no fluke. May have needed the run last time and cannot be discounted given the scope for improvement.

Form: 12329-3

Forecasts

Al Hamdany (9/4), Burcan (5/2), Lawless Secret (4/1), Fire Fighting (5/1), Gwafa (8/1), Grand Inquisitor (14/1)

Fire Fighting has competed at higher levels than this and, if he had a couple of runs under his belt, he would be expected to make short work of these. An eight month absence is a concern and the concession of 13lb to BURCAN may be too much to ask. One of two for Marco Botti in this, the selection is lightly raced but has shown a clear liking for the surface and has scored over C&D. His third run back from a layoff saw marked improvement and he can take this at the expense of stablemate Al Hamdany. The four-year-old has gone close on his last two starts and probably had a tough task in conceding weight to the winner last time. He should go close again, but he may not be as well-handicapped as BURCAN. Lawless Secret looks the best of the rest.