totepoolliveinfo.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 6m 49.23s

Red Rising³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| BF| D

10/11

Beat Welsh National winner Raz De Maree over hurdles at Southwell in December and went well after 10lb rise at Cheltenham (3m, heavy) last time. Nudged up another 2lb here, but progressing nicely and it will be a surprise if he is not thereabouts.

Form: 81/1-312

Bryden Boy^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 130| D

18/1

Has recorded three of his four wins on heavy ground and stays 3m1½f. Back to a mark 1lb lower than when he last won, at Doncaster in March. Has not been in nearly the same form in three runs this term, so comes here with a bit to prove.

Form: 415-544

Mydor^p¹⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Robert Hogg⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 130| D

22/1

It is three years since he last won a race, although he has remained competitive under both codes from time-to-time since then. Stays well, acts on heavy but returns from six-month absence with a few questions to answer on stable debut.

Form: 402950-

Dedigout^p,t¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 117| D

25/1

Another without a win since 2015, when he landed a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse. Hasn't yet shown much for this trainer, though best run for him was here last month. Has dropped 23lb to this mark since Christmas and a revival of sorts would not be a shock.

Form: P-PP886

Florrie Knox³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 117

5/2

Ran well here over 2m3½f (good to soft) in November and has bettered that on both subsequent starts, going down by just 1L at Uttoxeter last time. Longer trip looks a positive, as does initial handicap mark. Should go close to a maiden success here.

Form: 6-3343

Fiscal Space⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 114

14/1

Has shown some promise in both starts over hurdles at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy each time). Step up in trip for his handicap debut looks a good move and initial mark looks fair, so no surprise to see him in the mix.

Form: 2-634

Rio Bravo^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 113

10/1

Placed in 5-8 starts, though remains a maiden. Best three runs were on good to soft/soft, though appeared to handle heavy well enough on only try. Nudged up 1lb for 4½L second at Taunton (2m½f) latest, but pedigree gives rise to stamina concerns.

Form: 93-2P52

Forecasts

Red Rising (10/11), Florrie Knox (5/2), Rio Bravo (10/1), Fiscal Space (14/1), Bryden Boy (18/1), Mydor (22/1), Dedigout (25/1)

Not a huge amount of depth to this stayers' handicap and the suggestion is a newcomer in this sphere, FLORRIE KNOX to break his duck now stepped up in trip. Red Rising is perhaps a more solid option and is respected in opposition, but he will also need a bit of improvement to defy topweight. Fiscal Space should be thereabouts and a market check looks prudent for both Mydor and Dedigout, the latter having plummeted in the handicap of late.