Jo Andrews Belated Birthday Wishes Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 3m 44.55s

Unison²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 143| CD

5/1

Won this race last year off an 11lb lower mark but has made solid improvement since that success winning twice in the spring. Should be spot on after a recent spin and likely to make a bold bid to win this race again.

Form: 311P-35

Don Bersy^h1¹⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: T Symonds| OR: 135| D

6/1

Made steady progress last year before refusing to race on scheduled chasing debut at Uttoxeter in May. Returns from a six month absence here so fitness needs to be taken on trust and the hood is now applied.

Form: 79214-R

Distingo²¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135| D

16/1

Ex-French performer who won a novice event at Kempton in March before finding Grade 1 company a little hot at Aintree in the spring. Returns from a seven-month break and carries significant promise to do well this year.

Form: F4121P-

Embole^h,t²⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

9/2

Won at Wincanton in February before being well held in the Fred Winter at the Festival. Close-up third on final start last season at Ayr and resumes here off 3lb higher having had a seven-month break.

Form: 435103-

Mystic Sky^b¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 127| D

7/2

Ran a cracker in a Listed Mares contest at Wetherby 10 dasy ago when narrowly denied by Lady Buttons. A repeat of that effort would give her sound claims back in a handicap here.

Form: 229732

Banditry¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 124| D

7/4

Smart flat performer on his day who has also won over hurdles. First start in this sphere for almost a year but is fit from the flat and is impossible to dismiss given his ability in that sphere.

Form: 53/2120-

Forecasts

Banditry (7/4), Mystic Sky (7/2), Embole (9/2), Unison (5/1), Don Bersy (6/1), Distingo (16/1)

A tight little contest in which Unison is clearly going to make a bold bid to win the race for the second year running. He faces some stern opposition this time around with smart flat performer Banditry impossible to ignore. A bigger threat may well come from both Embole and DISTINGO who both come into the season with lots of potential to rank higher.