starsports.bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 5m 40.5s

Steel Wave²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Alex Edwards⁽⁵⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 121

33/1

Will find this company easier than the one he kept at Bangor last time, where he ran a little better than his finishing position suggested. Useful for Willie Mullins previously and if he can be coaxed back by new yard, has chances here.

Form: 546327

Imada²⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 115

4/1

Rounded off last season with a decent second at Ayr (2m) and looks ready for this step up in trip to start off this one. Very well handicapped if you go back to bumper form, and this lightly-raced sort can go close if fit after absence.

Form: 3143/72-

Chase End Charlie^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: P J Brennan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 114| D

13/2

Won a better race than this for Tom Lacey a couple of years ago, mainly moderate form since then but signs at Warwick latest that he might be on the way back. Yard going better now and he's too well handicapped to dismiss lightly.

Form: 156/7P4

Renwick¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 113

8/11

Only had the three starts, coming good at Hereford in a maiden last time out. Hard to pin down what the form is worth but with top yard, likely to progress and looks one of the more likely winners.

Form: 6-21

Jam Session^p⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113

9/2

Useful stayer on the Flat, twice a winner this season and looks nicely handicapped on return to hurdles today. Yard have a good record at the track (10 winners from 67 runners) and he must be taken very seriously, with this trip likely to suit.

Form: 20243/7-

Forecasts

Renwick (8/11), Imada (4/1), Jam Session (9/2), Chase End Charlie (13/2), Steel Wave (33/1)

Hard to rule any of the five out, with all of them having some positives to recommend them. Chase End Charlie will be dangerous if allowed an easy lead, which is a possibility. Jam Session comes from a yard that do well here and looks a potential improver, Renwick is unexposed and open to plenty of improvement (especially over this trip), but the vote goes to IMADA, who won't mind any more rain and looked to be crying out for this sort of trip when last seen. There's not many miles on the clock and it's unlikely we've seen the best of him.