Racing UK Free Trial Jump To It Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 6m 30.71s

Kansas City Chief^p⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 9| Weight: 12-5| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120| D

4/6

Dual chase winner who broke his duck over hurdles at Doncaster (3m½f, soft) last week with a ready 8L success. Back out under a 7lb penalty this time and Noel Fehily replaced by 5lb claimer to help negate that. Short-listed.

Form: 8-27551

Niceandeasy²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 120| BF

7/2

Won his first three starts last year, a bumper plus two hurdles at Hexham over 2m4f. Raised 3lb for a 2¼L defeat here over 2m3½f (soft) last time, but open to further improvement over this longer trip and should be thereabouts.

Form: 1-11U2

Planet Nine^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 115

11/2

Won his first two bumpers on soft/good and has shown ability in three hurdles runs this term, all at around 2m4f. Initial handicap mark looks very fair and with improvement possible now stepped up in trip, he is interesting.

Form: 11-453

Royal Salute^b,t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 115

50/1

Won two chases at Plumpton over 3m1½f for Anthony Honeyball this time last year, the latter off just 1lb lower. Ran well enough before falling at last on debut for this yard over hurdles at Ayr in November. Bit to prove after latest effort.

Form: 113F-FP

Dark Sunset⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 113

12/1

Has won on good to soft ground, but softer conditions are a concern for a mare who has already recorded three hurdling wins. One of those was last time at Doncaster (3m½f, good) from 5lb lower. Improving, but has it to prove in the conditions.

Form: 114541

Tomkevi^p,t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 112| C

20/1

Goes well on testing ground, stays 3m and has won at this track from a higher mark, so a number of ticks in the right boxes. In-and-out so far this season, but if on a going day he is handicapper to have a say.

Form: 157U55

Forecasts

Kansas City Chief (4/6), Niceandeasy (7/2), Planet Nine (11/2), Dark Sunset (12/1), Tomkevi (20/1), Royal Salute (50/1)

Kansas City Chief is very much respected after getting it right for the first time over hurdles at Doncaster and a 7lb penalty for his 8L win may not be enough to stop him. However, NICEANDEASY is open to further improvement in handicaps now stepped up in trip and he is preferred on this occasion. Planet Nine is not ruled out, while Tomkevi could come into it if at his best and Dark Sunset would also have claims if handling conditions.