Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 3m 49.5s

Penneys Hun¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-4| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: M Blanshard| OR: 117

28/1

Winner on his hurdles debut bettering his creditable bumper efforts when trained in Ireland but ran poorly on his first run for this yard (well beaten). Beaten off a 4lb higher mark in his only handicap so far; little margin for error now though.

Form: 051528-

Celestial Path^b³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 116

3/1

Smart sort on the Flat (stayed 1m well) it's taken a while for the penny to drop over hurdles. A reduced mark/trip and with blinkers on for the first-time he got off the mark over hurdles and followed up under a penalty; chance of the hat-trick.

Form: 359-P11

Salto Chisco³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: H Whittington| OR: 111| CD

9/4

C&D win off a 1lb lower mark was one of his three successes last year and his chase run off a higher mark last week was a tangible effort. That came off a 5lb higher mark and a repeat of that would give him a chance in this.

Form: 414-322

Excellent Team^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 107

11/4

Back to something akin to his best when taking a Uttoxeter handicap hurdle in June but he remains an unreliable sort and a sketchy jumper to boot. Failed to back that run up on a couple of occasions now and remains a little high in the weights.

Form: 60-5144

Chantecler^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 104

6/1

Yet to win over hurdles (0-16) but does have some pieces of form which would give him a chance here especially his Ludlow 2nd in May. Ran well the time after but rather reverted to type last time (took strong hold) under today's claiming rider.

Form: 236-276

Billy My Boy^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 104| CD

8/1

C&D winner who likes to bowl along and given the way he went last time (until unseating 2 out) he looks back to near his best. Does need to brush up on his jumping though on occasions but dangerous if allowed a soft lead here off this mark.

Form: P7-348U

Distant High^b,t1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 82

20/1

Flat form is rather modest and she hardly bettered that over hurdles here last time out when wearing blinkers for the first-time (had previously worn them on the Flat). Now has a tongue-tie added to blinkers makes little appeal from out the handicap.

Form: 468-296

Forecasts

Salto Chisco (9/4), Excellent Team (11/4), Celestial Path (3/1), Chantecler (6/1), Billy My Boy (8/1), Distant High (20/1), Penneys Hun (28/1)

Two of the main protagonists here like to go forward in their races and it’s hoped that Billy My Boy and CELESTIAL PATH don’t set the race up for one of the closers. The latter of the named duo has shown much better form for a change of headgear and a change of tactics although he rising through the handicap he should be able to complete a hat-trick. The former will need to jump a little better to keep tabs on his front-running rival but would be a danger if he were to get a soft lead. Salto Chisco attempts to exploit a lower hurdles mark but probably needs others to falter while Excellent Team and Chantecler need to jump and settle better respectively.