Golden Miller Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:48 | Winning time: 5m 40.10s

Head To The Stars²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 127| CD

6/4

C&D winner as a novice in December 2016 and comes here on back of career-best effort when landing Wincanton handicap hurdle over 2m5½f on heavy this month. Up 5lb but has scope to improve.

Form: 124-651

Cobolobo¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124

16/1

Not the most consistent but has managed two wins from eight over hurdles, latest at Uttoxeter in November (2m7½f, good). Poor in both outings since and the forecast testing ground is an unknown factor.

Form: 412-18P

Du Soleil²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 123

9/2

Novice winner over 2m at Uttoxeter in November before early exit upped to this trip at Haydock next time. Close second here (2m, heavy) and remains unexposed over staying trips despite 4lb rise.

Form: 1/3-1F2

Hit The Highway^p1,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: G R I Smyly| OR: 122| CD

8/1

A promising novice over timber, he twice scored over this C&D in late 2015 and early 2016. Had his troubles since and confidence seems to have been knocked with trio of poor runs over fences early last year. Cheekpieces tried now, has work to do.

Form: 2P-4U75

Malapie¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 120

7/2

Swooped late to score at Uttoxeter (2m7½f, soft) just before Christmas, found wanting under 5lb penalty in stronger grade at Warwick this month. Can bounce back in this field.

Form: 1P-4418

Crookstown^b³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: L P Aspell| T: B I Case| OR: 107| D

25/1

Into the veteran stages now and has mostly toiled since winning over fences at Haydock in May. Was shaping with a degree of promise at Fakenham on New Year's Day over this trip on heavy when essentially taken out by falling rival.

Form: U6057P

Rock And Roll King^p1⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: Evan Williams| OR: 104

10/1

Limited promise in novice hurdles before a fair effort on handicap debut over 2m at Ffos Las in November. Did not back that up last time and has questions to answer over this longer journey.

Form: 9453-47

Forecasts

Head To The Stars (6/4), Malapie (7/2), Du Soleil (9/2), Hit The Highway (8/1), Rock And Roll King (10/1), Cobolobo (16/1), Crookstown (25/1)

Former C&D winner Head To The Stars comes here in good heart after a career-best at Wincanton when scoring earlier this month and isn't easily overlooked despite a 5lb hike, while Du Soleil went close over 2m here recently and is unexposed over this longer trip. They are likely to figure at the top end of the market but it might be profitable to forgive MALAPIE his recent Warwick flop. He was given a fine ride to score at Uttoxeter last month by Sean Bowen and rather had the gun to his head in a much higher grade in that follow-up attempt. Eased in grade he might bounce back now. Crookstown was still in the race at Fakenham on New Year's Day when badly hampered and losing all chance and is worth a market check.