Central Soft Ice Cream Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 48.61s

Joueur Bresilien¹⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 118

2/1

Didn't need to improve on earlier form when landing a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las in July, but returns with yard in good form, and can't be ruled out on pick of his efforts in this sphere.

Form: 623-741

Mountain Ranger⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 112| D

11/2

Bumper winner for Sean Byrne in Ireland, but not progressing over hurdles, and his mark looks stiff on balance now he starts out for a new yard.

Form: 8-P6550

Almost Gold¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 108

4/5

Yard in form, and this gelding caught the eye when finishing third to Neachells Bridge on handicap debut at Hereford. That form already franked, and he looks open to further progress.

Form: 9774-3

Along Came Theo^p1²⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: A Nicol| T: A Crook| OR: 103

16/1

Finished runner-up on first three starts in handicap hurdles last season, but ran a stinker at Southwell in March and not seen since.

Form: 4P/222P-

Non-Runners

Neachells Bridge¹⁷

Weight: 12-2| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: R T Dunne

Howth Summit⁴³

Weight: 11-9| Age: 5

T: Miss P Robson J: Henry Brooke

Cut And Run¹⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: M Keighley J: Harry Stock

Forecasts

Almost Gold (4/5), Joueur Bresilien (2/1), Neachells Bridge (9/4), Mountain Ranger (11/2), Cut And Run (7/1), Howth Summit (8/1), Along Came Theo (16/1)

NEACHELLS BRIDGE had Almost Gold back in third when winning at Hereford last time, and while the latter is entitled to go much closer with the benefit of that run, he's taken to uphold the form, which has been franked by the runner-up since. Howth Summit has not been helped by late mistakes on his last two starts, and can get involved if jumping with more fluency.