bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 3m 45.7s

William Of Orange^b,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 133| D

6/1

Back to winning ways in good style at Kelso last time out off 8lb lower than this, but much of that rise is claimed off by a promising conditional and this looks a similar race on paper.

Form: 2531P-1

Symphony Of Angels²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| D

6/4

Eased down winner at Southwell last time out and goes up 8lb in the weights (on stable debut). Should improve again for this yard and looks one of the leading contenders in this contest as well.

Form: 21137-1

Candy Burg^t³¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 126

8/1

First run for this yard having achieved some good form over in France, though as his only previous efforts in Britain have been in competitive races at Cheltenham, it's difficult to tell if this is his level.

Form: F501/17-

Ocean Jive²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: D A Jacob| T: C J Mann| OR: 120| D

2/1

Ran a fine race to finish third in a Class 2 on handicap debut at Newton Abbot last time out. Interesting here off just 1lb higher in what looks a less competitive race.

Form: 1-3

Mick Thonic^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 116| D

9/1

Yet to win a hurdles race in Britain and didn't look much closer to doing so on return from chasing at Aintree last time out.

Form: 467-2U5

Bonobo²³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 114| BF| D

40/1

Form something of a mixed bag up to and on her last appearance back in November over both hurdles and fences. Has never won a handicap off a mark this high before and is best watched.

Form: P/3U12P-

Forecasts

Symphony Of Angels (6/4), Ocean Jive (2/1), William Of Orange (6/1), Candy Burg (8/1), Mick Thonic (9/1), Bonobo (40/1)

Symphony Of Angels makes plenty of appeal having won well at Southwell last time, but preference is for WILLIAM OF ORANGE. He may have gone up 8lb for winning at Kelso last time, but Lorcan Murtagh claims 5lb of that off and is a very capable young rider. The horse is in form and should appreciate ground and trip, so looks set for another big run. Ocean Jive ran well on handicap debut last time and is another danger.