Be Wiser Insurance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 4m 1.9s

Curious Carlos¹⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 135| D

16/1

Took a slip in the weights and a less competitive race than usual to bring about a win at Cartmel last May. Has proved consistent since then but the handicapper looks to have regained control since then and he'll do well to score off this mark.

Form: 0-12F24

Moabit^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

6/5

Has made the most of soft leads to land his last to handicaps; last win coming in a race that wasn't that competitive for the grade. Given another 4lb rise for that win he will surely find life harder especially if rivals are alive to his tactics.

Form: P-23411

Sizing Granite^t¹¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132| DWS

7/1

Appeared to be rejuvenated all of a sudden when winning at Punchestown off a mark of 146 last April over fences. His two subsequent chase runs haven't come close to that form and he now reverts to hurdles off a much lower mark; questions to answer.

Form: 5P51-PP

Raven's Tower⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 131| D

10/1

Made a positive starts to the season highlighted by a win at Fontwell off a 4lb lower mark. Looked as though he would remain competitive but both his starts since have been poor and he folded up very quickly last time (ridden too positively).

Form: P-22100

Mcgroarty^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 126| D

5/1

Successful in back-to-back 2m novice hurdles on good ground last August he failed to cope with a stiff opening looking handicap mark (126) over a longer trip. Had wind surgery before returning in a jumpers bumper recently; may have needed that run.

Form: 121176

Solstice Star^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: M Keighley| OR: 125| D

9/1

Finally slipped back below his last winning mark gained when going through a stellar run of form in late 2015/early 2016 over hurdles. Mixed chasing with hurdling since then via some wind surgery; still trying to regain that form (poor last time).

Form: 324566

Early Du Lemo³⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120

7/1

A winner in France of a newcomer's event he's shaped much better than the bare result on both of his starts for this yard always looking the type who would do better in handicaps. Back from a fair break but worth noting in the market.

Form: 133-

Forecasts

Moabit (6/5), Mcgroarty (5/1), Sizing Granite (7/1), Early Du Lemo (7/1), Solstice Star (9/1), Raven's Tower (10/1), Curious Carlos (16/1)

It may well be that Moabit isn’t allowed to gain an easy lead again in this with his rivals now being hopefully aware of his tactics. With Raven’s Tower and Solstice Star two other front-running types in the field he may not be afforded a soft lead again although that pair come here trying to find their form. Sizing Granite is very well handicapped if he were to come back to life but he did look a horse with his problems last time out over fences and with Curious Carlos looking held by the handicapper the handicap debutante EARLY DU LEMO is given the vote in the hope that his mark is a lenient one and there is some market support.