Tropic Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 7m 1.3s

After Aspen^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 118| BF

7/2

Won twice in Ireland for previous connections and made a winning start for current yard when scoring in the mud at Lingfield in February. Not jump well when distant third at Fakenham latest off higher mark and would appreciate any rain.

Form: P-64013

Bandon Roc^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 115| BF| C

13/2

Scored here over 2m3f last season on soft ground and generally at his best when the mud is flying so any rain would help his cause. Went close at Wetherby in February in heavy ground but may be in handicapper's grip.

Form: 1-P7P24

Transpennine Star²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 108

2/1

Won twice on Flat at 1m6f for Michael Dods and has shown some ability in three starts over timber so far. Best effort on most recent start when third at Wetherby on handicap bow and off 2lb lower mark now may go close.

Form: 333

Pink Gin^t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 107| C

3/1

Scored at Exeter in January 2017 off 10lb lower mark and has struggled of late off revised rating and pulled up when tailed off last time out. Forecast better ground may help but others make more appeal.

Form: 5-22F7P

I'm In Charge⁵⁵¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: J G Cann| OR: 100| BF| D

5/1

Ideally suited by top of the ground so wouldn't want ground to ease. Not seen since finishing second twice at Wincanton in October on Good to Firm ground over fenecs and runs off 20lb lower mark now over timber. Worth a market check.

Form: 4/1P122-

Non-Runners

Stage Summit³⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: D A Jacob

Volcanic²⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: D McCain Jnr J: W T Kennedy

Kayla¹⁸⁴

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: S Edmunds J: Joshua Moore

Forecasts

Transpennine Star (2/1), Pink Gin (3/1), After Aspen (7/2), I'm In Charge (5/1), Stage Summit (5/1), Volcanic (11/2), Bandon Roc (13/2), Kayla (14/1)

This is a trappy affair but a chance is given to the relatively unexposed TRANSPENNINE STAR who has taken fairly well to hurdles and showed enough last time out to suggest a race such as this is within his range. There are plenty of dangers, including top weight Stage Summit, Volcanic, and veteran I'm In Charge in what should be a decent race.