Bet At toals.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 4m 50.7s

Sonic^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| CD

11/10

Much improved hurdler who produced a clear career best when making all to score by 8L from Ballyfarsoon over C&D (good to firm) recently; 7lb higher, but with conditions ideal should go close to following up in retained cheekpieces.

Form: 3F2121

Siannes Star¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 115

20/1

Eight-race maiden; shown only moderate from in bumpers and over hurdles so far, and wouldn't look to be that well treated on handicap debut off a mark of 115; drop in trip helpful, but rates as vulnerable despite the small field.

Form: 60-5U26

Spectator^t,v⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115

3/1

Probably needed the race at Stratford (2m2f+) in August, but despite being a two-time hurdles winner (on variable ground) he's not wholly reliable overall hence the visor and tongue-tie combination; 6lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 143-355

Iolani^p,h,t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 104| C

2/1

Formerly with Willie Mullins; well found in the market when breaking his hurdles duck over 2m1f here (good to firm), beating Hey Bob by 7L; 10lb higher, so that'll make life harder; up in trip, but couldn't be discounted.

Form: 4P-V941

Non-Runners

Fly Vinnie²⁹³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: A C Whillans J: Callum Bewley

Forecasts

Sonic (11/10), Iolani (2/1), Spectator (3/1), Fly Vinnie (7/1), Siannes Star (20/1)

Assuming that the returning Fly Vinnie brings his 'A' game to the table, the much improved SONIC won't necessarily have it all his own way up front. However, he scaled new heights (in first time cheekpieces) when a ready C&D winner under similar conditions earlier this month. Furthermore, his rider Brian Hughes knows this track like the back of his hand, and with question marks against the majority, he's by far the most appealing of this quintet.