13:55 Towcester

Thursday 15 March 2018

All13:2013:5514:3515:1515:5516:3517:15

Imperial Classic Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 26.0s

Lissycasey²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 117

13/2

Improving with each of three starts over hurdles at Ludlow over 2m, latest being a staying on fifth (2m, soft) last month. Should go well now sent handicapping.

Form: P2-9745

Celestial Magic⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 117| CD

6/1

Winner over C&D a year ago. Back on same handicap mark now and recent hurdling efforts would give him a chance.

Form: 214-4F4

Walsingham Grange^v1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 115| BF| D

4/1

Made all to score at Bangor over extended two-miles on penultimate outing, also on heavy going. Nowhere near as good since at Huntingdon and so remains a hard one to trust. Visor tried now.

Form: 6-73215

Thats My Rabbit⁸⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J & S Best| OR: 115| D

8/1

Made winning handicap debut over 2m4f (heavy) at Uttoxeter in December 2015 from this mark. Hasn't been spotted since. First start for new connections and market check advised.

Form: 135221/

Gregarious^h,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁷⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 115| D

8/1

Returns after a barren spell over fences 2lb higher than when winning a juvenile handicap hurdle over this trip (soft) at Sandown a year ago. Arguably unexposed over hurdles and not ruled out.

Form: 19-P42F

Billy Hicks⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: David England| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 111| D

8/1

Showed improvement to win back-to-back novices' hurdles at Ludlow (2m, soft) and Chepstow (2m3½f, soft) last March, just fair in two recent starts but handicapper has cut some slack and improved showing cannot be ruled out.

Form: 9611-26

Commodore³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 110

9/2

Won a 2m5f chase (good) in France in 2016 and handled very soft over there. Has shown little in three novices' hurdles for this trainer, perhaps better effort will come now sent into handicaps.

Form: 214-P84

Llantara^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 98

8/1

Runner-up in 2m mares' handicap hurdle at Chepstow in November, tame efforts at Fontwell and Taunton subsequently. Better at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last month when 12L second, but might need some relief from assessor.

Form: 3P-2702

Georgieshore^h¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 92| D

10/1

Winner of similar contest at Leicester in January on testing ground from 5lb lower mark, only average in two further outings over hurdles and poor last time attempting chasing for first time.

Form: 431562

Forecasts

Walsingham Grange (4/1), Commodore (9/2), Celestial Magic (6/1), Lissycasey (13/2), Gregarious (8/1), Billy Hicks (8/1), Llantara (8/1), Thats My Rabbit (8/1), Georgieshore (10/1)

Celestial Magic won this contest 12 months ago and should be fit to mount another challenge having found his way back to the same handicap mark again. Walsingham Grange is a frustrating sort, but could do well if repeating the form of his all the way Bangor win recently. Handicap debutants Commodore and LISSYCASEY are also to be noted. The later has improved in each of three starts at Ludlow and should be ready for this as a result.