starsports.bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 48.3s

Shalakar³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127

9/4

Produced several placed efforts before getting a win on the board at Ludlow in April. Made a promising return at Bangor last month, and respected with yard seemingly hitting its stride.

Form: 33331-3

Diamond Fort²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

8/1

Improved to gain back-to-back handicap wins at Chepstow and Wetherby last year, but hiked in the weights and has since struggled in better races. Not seen since May, and has her well-being to prove on return.

Form: 31/1P9-9

Doubly Clever⁴⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: M Blake| OR: 126| D

20/1

Won twice on fast ground last summer over hurdles, but not seen since 2 lengths third of 6 to Braavos at Southwell in September 2017, and needs to prove his fitness after such a lengthy absence.

Form: 4/11423-

Vaziani¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 118

2/1

Taunton winner on debut last December and not disgraced since going into handicaps, for all his latest fifth of 15 at Newbury suggests he needs to drop a few pounds in the weights. This is easier, at least.

Form: 12-75

Trans Express^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 117| CD

2/1

Well backed when second here last month, and built on that when beating Navajo War Dance at Leicester last time. Still on a fair mark, and should make his presence felt again.

Form: 62-3721

Non-Runners

Radical Archie³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: Evan Williams J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

Trans Express (2/1), Vaziani (2/1), Shalakar (9/4), Radical Archie (10/3), Diamond Fort (8/1), Doubly Clever (20/1)

A few with questions to answer, but not so TRANS EXPRESS, who built on the promise of his penultimate run when scoring at Leicester. He has most to fear from Radical Archie, who arrives with a similar profile, while topweight Shalakar should come on for his return at Bangor, and isn't taken lightly.