Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 3m 47.56s

Don Bersy¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 136| D

3/1

Has won 4-8 since January last year and bounced back to form with a brave success at Carlisle last time. Yard in cracking from at present so despite further 3lb rise has to be a contender.

Form: 13-7921

I'm A Game Changer¹⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N D Fehily| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| CD

9/4

Last win came over C&D last February off 11lb lower mark and has looked to be in handicapper's grip of late. Mistakes in recent outings haven't helped the cause either, and on balance others are preferred.

Form: 3114-65

Peruvien Bleu⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 126| CD

13/2

Win here over this trip in October off 4lb lower mark then was out of his depth in Ascot listed event when well beaten. Shaped well until tiring at Taunton last time after break and may not be far away this time.

Form: 124106

Raise A Spark^h³²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126| D

16/1

Three wins last term in a good campaign and was still in with a chance when at the last when falling at Perth last May. Absence since is a concern but a bold show not ruled out if market speaks in his favour.

Form: 13134-F

On Demand^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125

14/1

Driven out to score at Wincanton in November but a little disappointing since then and didn't do enough last time to suggest her winning turn is just around the corner. despite presence of top young rider in saddle.

Form: 157343

Mister Universum^t²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| BF| D

25/1

Top yard remains in good form, but has absence of seven months to overcome and was beaten odds-on in each of his last three starts last season.

Form: 541123

Subcontinent¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 116

3/1

Won three times on Flat for Charlie Appleby in 2015 but had been disappointing over timber until better effort at Haydock last time over 3f further than this race. Decent ground helps and should be right in the mix if in same mood.

Form: 5-P4672

Forecasts

I'm A Game Changer (9/4), Don Bersy (3/1), Subcontinent (3/1), Peruvien Bleu (13/2), On Demand (14/1), Raise A Spark (16/1), Mister Universum (25/1)

DON BERSY and Subcontinent are top and bottom of the handicap respectively but there may not be much between them. Narrow preference is for Don Bersy who showed a good attitude when scoring at Carlisle recently. Subcontinent is finally showing signs of form over hurdles and can make a proper race of it. Peruvien Bleu is another with claims on recent efforts, while a market move for Raise A Spark would be very interesting after seven months off.