Malcolm And Gillian Wedding Celebrations Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 55.0s

Native Optimist²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Walton| OR: 107| CD

20/1

Not badly treated on his best hurdles form but he's not easy to catch right and can be a little quirky. Has won over C&D (better at Hexham) but he's not looking at the top of his game; third last time at Hexham was only modest behind The Jam Man.

Form: 7P9-363

Dotties Dilema^b,t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 106| D

11/4

Winning hurdler/chaser who is capable of winning more but has returned from a break with two very similar performances at Warwick/Worcester. Travelled strongly both times but let down by weak finish and creeping up the handicap again.

Form: 1551-62

Hello Fellas⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 104

5/6

Yet to win a race but has returned from a wind op to produce two creditable performances the first on his handicap debut (well supported) over a shorter trip here. Stepped up to 3m last time and keeping on well behind to useful sorts; same mark here.

Form: 6/557-23

Christmas Twenty²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 103

10/1

A record of 0-24 hardly inspires although he did look unlucky over fences last time (race didn't go his way). Always looks to be thereabouts over hurdles but does struggle to get the job done and pushed back up the weights here.

Form: P5-3724

Reivers Lodge^h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 101

10/1

Has run into the improving Jack Devine the last twice and come off second best on both occasions (remains 6lb above last winning mark). That was her first poor effort for a while and she generally runs her race but does need to return to form here.

Form: 054-S25

Sierra Oscar²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 92

16/1

Hurdles winner when with Dan Skelton he's never really fired for this yard with one third here over shorter being his best display for them. He continues his drop in the weights without really looking like he's an imminent winner.

Form: 67F-306

Lady London^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 91| D

22/1

Given her debut over fences last time she ran below her hurdles form and is quickly returned to the smaller obstacles. Win over hurdles came off a lowly mark (83) with this headgear combination making the difference; little more needed.

Form: 1243-05

Forecasts

Hello Fellas (5/6), Dotties Dilema (11/4), Christmas Twenty (10/1), Reivers Lodge (10/1), Sierra Oscar (16/1), Native Optimist (20/1), Lady London (22/1)

Hardly a strong event for the grade with one or two that have had trouble finishing their races off and often look vulnerable in a finish. Both Dotties Dilema and Christmas Twenty would come into that category and neither are particularly easy to win with although both and particularly the former are likely to travel well. Native Optimist and Reivers Lodge both need to bounce back from some modest runs so HELLO FELLAS who has yet to win a race is given the vote here. This trip looked to suit last time and he’s only lightly-raced and this may be his chance to get off the mark especially against some rather frail finishers.