C&S Electrical Wholesale Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 21.5s

Unison¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 145| CD

5/2

Back to winning ways last time out turning in a career best although he was seen to good effect from the front. Has to defy an even tougher task here as he's up 5lb for that win and he'll need to show even more here.

Form: 0-19531

Coillte Lass^p1⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| CD

5/1

C&D winner who now reverts to hurdles after some very disappointing outings over fences when she often found little once asked for an effort. Has won a Listed hurdle around here but mark looks stiff and recent form isn't encouraging.

Form: 30P-554

Caid Du Lin^p,t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 138

14/1

Still some 6lb above his last winning mark and this is a higher grade than he last won in. Did run well a few outings ago at Sandown but hasn't really backed that up since and likely to face some pace pressure here and others are preferred.

Form: 17220P

Hurricane Hollow^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

4/1

You have to go a fair way back for the last of this one's three hurdles wins although his last two runs have shown that he's working his way back to form in good contests. No match for the winner last time and back in trip here he's likely to give a good account.

Form: 839/832

Our Merlin²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 133| CD

7/2

Has shown some remarkable progress this season in handicaps winning three on the bounce before the handicapper seemingly caught up with him last time at Sandown. That was still a good but he's pushed up another 1lb here and may be held again.

Form: F11123

Black Mischief^p,t1⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 132| D

5/1

Tongue-tie added to cheekpieces this time around having shown some fairly useful form over hurdles and he now steps into handicap company for the first time. Found less than looked likely last time (loomed up on bridle turning for home); not easily written off though and worth another chance.

Form: 3F-1553

Dovils Date²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 119| C| D

25/1

In far better form on the Flat of late and despite descending below his last winning mark over hurdles he produced a laboured effort last time. Hard to fashion a case for him in this sort of company and likely to find this a stiff task.

Form: 5-56859

Forecasts

Unison (5/2), Our Merlin (7/2), Hurricane Hollow (4/1), Black Mischief (5/1), Coillte Lass (5/1), Caid Du Lin (14/1), Dovils Date (25/1)

Paul Nicholls has won this twice in the past four years and he runs Coillte Lass here who returns to the scene of her best run although she will need to improve on her recent chasing form. Unison will have to improve on his recent career best and may face some pressure from the front this time. Both Hurricane Hollow and Caid Du Lin have form in decent handicap hurdles with the former looking to have a better chance. Our Merlin has shown some remarkable improvement in handicaps this season although the handicapper looks to have him in his grasp now. BLACK MISCHIEF now makes his handicap debut with the tongue-tie going on for the first time and that may help him finish off his race better this time having travelled well last time out.