James & Sue Bolingbroke Turn Of Century Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 23.10s

Celestial Magic⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 120| D

4/1

Improved steadily over the past year in handicap hurdles, though the assessor has looked in control just lately. Not without hope though in a race as uncompetitive as this and suited to testing conditions.

Form: 1214-4F

Prussian Eagle³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113| D

13/8

Came in for support last time but ran into a lightly raced improver from a big yard. Has obvious chances in this less exalted company.

Form: 414352

Dun Scaith^h,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 104

12/1

Has three victories to his name on good ground but has failed to make the frame when conditions have been soft or worse.

Form: 86-6350

Benissimo²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Josh Wall⁽⁵⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 103| D

33/1

Winner for Dan Skelton in 2016 but has failed to shine for this yard. Now 12lb below her last winning mark and current form suggests it has further to fall.

Form: 36568-6

Akula^p⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Alain Cawley| T: B Leavy| OR: 100| CD

5/1

Outran odds of 100/1 last week when ridden prominently in conditions where it proved worthwhile to do so. In a weaker race this time and similar tactics should see him go close again off the same mark.

Form: 3-5U293

Comber Mill^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: A Ralph| OR: 96| CD

11/4

A drop in trip, tongue-tie and forcing tactics helped him to a first success here last time. A 3lb rise seems fair and he cannot be dismissed off his light weight in a race this poor.

Form: 694481

Forecasts

Prussian Eagle (13/8), Comber Mill (11/4), Celestial Magic (4/1), Akula (5/1), Dun Scaith (12/1), Benissimo (33/1)

Akula and Comber Mill produced big runs last time but both like to dictate matters as does Prussian Eagle. The latter will find this easier than last time and may be tactically more versatile, but the presence of so much pace may set this up for the topweight CELESTIAL MAGIC. The six-year-old is suited to these conditions and has a nice turn of foot. His mark is no giveaway, however this is less competitive than recent starts and his class is taken to shine through.