Walters Group Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 25.1s

Buckhorn Timothy³⁰⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136

16/1

Stays 3m2f and was in good form last autumn. Not seen since finishing lame in the Welsh National in January. 1lb above his last winning mark and goes well fresh. Very interesting on his reappearance under a 10lb claimer.

Form: 200/11P-

Kaki De La Pree²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Symonds| OR: 132| D

10/3

Respectable effort on is reappearance at Uttoxeter last month. 2lb drop won't do any harm and he can't be ruled out.

Form: 2F4/P5-3

More Buck's^t¹¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 132| D

10/1

Enjoyed a good spring/summer and was last seen winning the Listed Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. Back up in trip here, acts on soft ground and is up 5lb. Unexposed, however, so entitled to enter calculations.

Form: 3/77-211

Pobbles Bay²²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 126| C| D

7/2

It's nearly two years since he last won and his form has been on the slide since then. On a very handy mark if he could stage a revival on his reappearance. Has won when fresh, so market may help.

Form: 15/974P-

Quiz Master^t¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122| BF

6/1

Sole win came at Fontwell in February (2m5½f, good to soft), when 15lb lower. Has kept on improving since then, and there is scope for more now returning from a break stepped up in trip. Enters calculations.

Form: 53122-2

West Of The Edge^p²³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 118| D

5/2

Thorough stayer who was last seen being pulled up in the Midlands National in March. Had run well in defeat in 3-4 other starts last year. Back to 1lb below his last win. Has scored when fresh, so another to consider.

Form: 1/3722P-

Granard²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 117| C

10/1

Sluiced up in a novices' hurdle here (2m6f, heavy) in April, but well below par on both runs since (including over fences last month). Back over hurdles for handicap debut from a handy mark if he can revive.

Form: P2/314-8

Forecasts

West Of The Edge (5/2), Kaki De La Pree (10/3), Pobbles Bay (7/2), Quiz Master (6/1), Granard (10/1), More Buck's (10/1), Buckhorn Timothy (16/1)

The smallish field does not diminish interest in this handicap hurdle, which should be very competitive. Buckhorn Timothy could emerge as a major player given his jockey's 10lb claim, but stablemate QUIZ MASTER is an improving gelding who could find more now upped in trip, and he gets the vote. More Buck's can give him plenty to think about, with Granard also very interesting from this mark if he can shrug off his reappearance now back hurdling.