At The Races Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 4.1s

Le Breuil²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| D

2/1

Useful novice form to win at Newbury last season and first two two runs in handicap company this term were respectable before finding the Coral Cup a bit too much at Cheltenham last month. Respected off present mark.

Form: 11P-520

Indian Hawk²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

9/4

£110,000 points recruit who has won well in novice hurdle company at Ludlow and Warwick but has flopped badly when upped to graded company, including last time at Sandown. Wouldn't appear to have too much margin for error off present mark.

Form: 2-1181P

Sir Mangan¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| D

16/1

Gained the last of three hurdle wins when scoring at Ffos Las (3m1f, good) a year ago. Has alternated between hurdles and staying chases since but appeared to find this trip on the sharp side when beaten 14L at Uttoxeter on his penultimate run.

Form: 216P66

Ordo Ab Chao³⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: David England| T: O Murphy| OR: 130| D

10/1

Once an exciting hurdler for Alan King who competed at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in 2015. After a long absence, he struggled in both runs last spring and has another lengthy absence to overcome as he debut's for a new yard.

Form: 417P/07-

Theatrebar^t¹⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129| BF| D

8/1

Lightly-raced and made it two wins out of three for this yard when winning at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) last February. A 13L runner-up on his only run this season at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) in October but yard going better now. Respected.

Form: 22/131-2

Iconic Sky^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 117| C

11/2

Wide margin winner of a poor race over 2m here (soft) last winter and also popped up with a win at Market Rasen in February before finishing second on heavy ground at Plumpton. Others more convincing overall.

Form: 3-93512

Nikki Steel⁵⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 113| BF

7/1

Winning 3m pointer who won twice over hurdles on decent ground in the summer of 2016, albeit in fairly weak company. Mark looks fair as he attempts to overcome a long absence, watch the market.

Form: 213212-

Forecasts

Le Breuil (2/1), Indian Hawk (9/4), Iconic Sky (11/2), Nikki Steel (7/1), Theatrebar (8/1), Ordo Ab Chao (10/1), Sir Mangan (16/1)

With Indian Hawk proving very hit or miss, it's anyones guess if he's well-handicapped or not and Le Breuil looks a safer alternative having not disgraced himself in last month's Coral Cup. For all that, THEATREBAR could prove the pick of the weights here after a light campaign which saw him finish a runner-up from this mark at Sedgefield last time out in October. The gelding goes well fresh and, with the Skelton yard in flying form, he could take some stopping over his optimum trip on ideal ground.