Equine Products UK Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 27.2s

Snougar²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111| D

10/3

Scrambled home in a maiden hurdle at Ayr last month then appeared to find 2m3f beyond him at Haydock last time. Return to this trip helps and should be right in the mix despite having plenty of weight to shoulder.

Form: 0314

Chasseur De Tete^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 111

11/2

Failed very narrowly to beat Snougar at Ayr last time and meets him on the same terms . Yard ticking over nicely at present so looks set to again have a proper chance of landing the spoils.

Form: 755392

Main Fact^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 103

4/1

Won two of his last three starts and raised 6lb for latest 25/1 victory at Wetherby last month. Clearly in good heart and conditional rider seems to get on well with him.

Form: 4071P1

Haulani^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 105

3/1

Eased 5lb after being outclassed in better race at Newbury last time but his second to the useful Redicean at Kempton earlier in the campaign reads well in the context of this race. Looks to have been given a fine chance here.

Form: 3253P

Alfiboy¹³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 98WS

4/1

Returns from wind surgery but has shown very little in recent season and has clearly been hard to train. Shrewd yard respected but others make much more appeal.

Form: 02/P-FP0

Xpo Universel^p,t1⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: R Menzies| OR: 95

10/1

Formerly trained in France by Ferdy Murphy. Has shown modest form both starts since joining current yard hinting there may be a race for him in due course. Has it to do though here despite light weight. Wears first time cheekpieces.

Form: 674P35

Forecasts

Haulani (3/1), Snougar (10/3), Alfiboy (4/1), Main Fact (4/1), Chasseur De Tete (11/2), Xpo Universel (10/1)

There should be little to choose once again between Snougar and Chasseur De Tete who fought out a close finish at Ayr last month, but the handicapper may have given Brian Ellison's HAULANI a winning chance. His run behind Redicean at Kempton earlier this term is decent form and he can land the spoils in receipt of 12lb from the aforementined pair. Main Fact won't be too far away either.