Hambly Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 4f 139y | 7 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: P J Brennan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 132

German Flat winner who opened his account over hurdles in the autumn and arrives here on a hat-trick following successive 2m4f wins in the mud at Sandown and Lingfield. Raised 8lb but another bold show is likely.

Form: 7-12511

Kk Lexion¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 128| D

Gained the second of two hurdle wins at Wincanton (2m5f, soft) in 15 months ago but shot up 14lb and has been in the grip of the assessor ever since. Mark is coming down but he was still beaten 12L last time out in December.

Form: 1P0-383

Cabernet D'Alene²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 124| C

Showed much-improved form to go on a run of three wins in four starts earlier this season, including on heavy ground over 2m2f here in January. Was penalised 10lb for that emphatic win but abject latest effort seemed too bad to be true.

Form: 71611P

Fixed Rate^b,t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Angus Cheleda⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C J Mann| OR: 123

Well placed to win three times last year, but those victories were on a sounder surface. Two below par efforts in softer conditions under this rider more recently but is now only 3lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 1P1624

Silva Eclipse⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 122| BF

Rated 76 on the Flat and made a winning start over hurdles at Hexham in September (2m heavy). Left Jedd O'Keeffe afterwards, and twice a runner up for this yard in novice events before a poor handicap debut at Catterick. Questions to answer.

Form: 1228

Monfass^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 117| BF

Doncaster novice winner last spring who also added a handicap at Catterick in December (2m1f, soft). Not beaten far in subsequent starts from this mark and this step up in trip could improve him. Respected.

Form: 7-81333

Balgemmois⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: A Stronge| OR: 116

A change of tactics and softer ground reaped dividends when opening his account at Leicester in December but just found wanting off his revised mark in both starts since. Stamina query to answer having weakened on only previous attempt at 2m4f.

Form: 33-9145

Forecasts

Landin (9/4), Monfass (3/1), Silva Eclipse (6/1), Kk Lexion (6/1), Fixed Rate (13/2), Cabernet D'Alene (10/1), Balgemmois (12/1)

Landin is thriving at present and has to be respected in his hat-trick bid even though an 8lb rise for his Lingfield win may be taking him towards the top of his ceiling. Devon raider Carbernet D'Alene's abject latest effort seemed to bad to be true and he could be given every chance on his earlier form but the answer here may lie in MONFASS. Rose Dobbin's mud-lover has been shaping as though this step up in trip is what he needs in rattling up a series of close thirds over shorter and his present mark is workable.