totetrifecta Handicap Hurdle (For The James Barclay Challenge Trophy)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 4m 13.1s

Man With Van^p¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 120

7/1

Veteran Irish challenger who was sent off at 50-1 when well held off this mark at Navan last time. Looks to have plenty to do against some in-form rivals.

Form: 437405

Charmant^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 119| CD

15/8

Won handicaps at Sedgefield and over C&D in December and there has been little wrong with two subsequent efforts off this mark. In good heart and likely to go well again.

Form: 24-1142

Imada⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 115| CD

5/1

Only win came over C&D in October, 2015, and was behind Charmant when he returned from a lengthy absence to finish seventh of 10 at Kelso in January. Shaped well that day, though, and can get involved if avoiding the "bounce" factor.

Form: 13143/7

Graystown³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 113

11/1

Placed twice in six starts over hurdles and is 2lb lower than when finishing well down the field at Musselburgh on his latest outing. Stable took this last year, but others still make more appeal.

Form: 324550

Trongate²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 108| C

6/1

Landed a 2m3f handicap at this venue in December and two good runs since have confirmed his liking for this course. Tends to race prominently and another bold show is on the cards.

Form: 404143

Our Lucas¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: B S Hughes| T: R M Smith| OR: 95| BF

11/4

Good efforts in handicaps on last three starts, two of them at this track. Not much between him and his stable companion, Trongate, and jockey booking catches the eye.

Form: 008-223

Forecasts

Charmant (15/8), Our Lucas (11/4), Imada (5/1), Trongate (6/1), Man With Van (7/1), Graystown (11/1)

Charmant is in good form and will not go down without a fight, while Imada enters the equation if coming on for his reappearance run. However, stable companions Trongate and OUR LUCAS have shown good form at this venue and the latter, in receipt of plenty of weight and with the north's top jockey on board, gets the vote.