bdnconstruction.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 7f 16y | 5 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 112| BF

Dual point-to-point winner who has been placed in all three starts over hurdles for current yard, including on his handicap debut at Ayr (2m5f, soft) when an 11L second behind Haul Us In. Step up in trip will suit.

Form: 211-322

Clondaw Bisto^b,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 112

Best effort since winning a bumper came when finishing fourth over an extended 2m7f at Ascot (soft) in February. Just below that form when third in first-time blinkers at Plumpton (3m1f, heavy) since but present mark looks fair.

Form: 043643

Western Wave²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 110

Lightly-raced for this yard since winning for David Loder at Carlisle in October 2016. Not beaten far in a couple of runs on soft ground either side of Christmas but dropped away tamely at Warwick last time. Improvement needed.

Form: 0-46243

One Of Us^p1⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 109| BF

Made the frame a few times before coming good at Ascot in a 2m7½f novices' handicap hurdle (good to soft) in December. Flopped when fancied on softer ground at Doncaster next time, so conditions possibly a concern. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 343-410

Top Billing⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 102| D

Racked up four of his five wins in succession in the 2014/2015, but not won for well over two years. Has plummeted in the weights but hard to make a case for on the evidence of two abject defeats this year.

Form: P75P-06

Forecasts

My Old Gold (13/8), Clondaw Bisto (9/4), Western Wave (4/1), One Of Us (5/1), Top Billing (20/1)

MY OLD GOLD advertised his stamina by winning twice over 3m in the point-to-point ranks and has made a solid start to his hurdling career, travelling particularly well for a long way on his handicap debut at Ayr last month over an inadequate 2m5f. This longer trip is exactly what he needs and his current mark is there to be exploited. Devon raider One Of Us would be a threat if able to reproduce the form of his Ascot win but these conditions may come up too testing so Clondaw Bisto could prove a safer forecast mixer.