Vertem - Leading The Field Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 4m 39.6s

Katgary^b⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 135

9/2

Not won since June 2016 (2m4f good to firm), but he's faced some stiff tasks this season including in the Fighting Fifth and the Morebattle Hurdle. The handicapper rather has him in his pocket at present.

Form: 344424

Sakhee's City^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 129| D

11/4

Generally more effective over a longer trip; 2m3f Catterick winner in January. That said, he wasn't beaten all that far when a never nearer fourth to Joke Dancer in similar conditions over C&D in February.

Form: 421540

Applaus^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 118| CD

4/1

Hasn't fully got to grips with fences just yet despite leading home the Hammond 1-2-3 on a stellar day at Wetherby last month (1m7f soft). On a fair mark over hurdles and is a heavy ground C&D winner.

Form: 1-P2341

Bulls Head⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 117| CD

11/10

Unbeaten in two starts for current connections including when well backed over C&D in January. 15lb above that initial winning mark, but won over further at Ayr next time (2m4f) and potentially has plenty more to offer.

Form: 5709-11

Non-Runners

Rhymers Stone²⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 10

T: Mrs H O Graham J: Callum Bewley

Forecasts

Bulls Head (11/10), Sakhee's City (11/4), Applaus (4/1), Katgary (9/2), Rhymers Stone (12/1)

A tight, trappy contest in which you'd be reluctant to be totally dismissive about any of the five runners. Katgary ran a blinder here in the Fighting Fifth in November, but could do with being cut some slack by the assessor. Rhymers Stone and Applaus are both C&D winners, whilst Sakhee's City is generally stronger over further. Therefore, that leaves us with the ultra progressive BULLS HEAD. He's 2 from 2 since joining Martin Todhunter, revels in testing conditions, and despite this representing a much stiffer assignment, the handicapper could still be playing catch up from a hastily revised mark of 117.