racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 59.70s

Spirit Of Kayf¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 128| CD

9/1

Talented novice for Sandy Thomson in 2016 (French Furze winner - Newcastle); in very deep on his return from a 25-month absence at Haydock in December (2m3f, heavy) and always on the back foot throughout.

Form: 201F1/5

Cornborough⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 126| CD

3/1

C&D winner who has a relatively healthy overall career strike-rate (8-44); ridden out when scoring over this trip at Wetherby (good) in November; fully entitled to be on the premises off just a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 460-521

Apache Jack^v¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 121

14/1

Generally below-par since winning at the sharp inner track Carlisle (2m3f+) in March 2018; surely debatable as to whether or not he can recapture his peak form in his advancing years; others much preferred.

Form: 71-807P

Crixus's Escape²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 121| D

7/2

Never really in contention when finishing a well beaten fourth at Bangor (2m7f, soft) in December; drops back in trip (2-2 over 2m in maiden/novice contests); soft ground fine but feasibly is high enough in the handicap.

Form: 7/11-74

Deepsand^t⁶⁰⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 114| CD

25/1

Capable performer on his day, and a C&D maiden winner way back in 2013; off the track since May 2017 (a major concern), albeit with the handicapper dropping him back to his last winning mark of 114 (January 2017).

Form: 241F4/3-

Beau Et Sublime^t⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 113| D

15/2

Not with this trainer for too long (since September 2018); dropped 3lb in the handicap since finishing just over 11L fifth of seven to Le Patriote over C&D (good) in November; more required.

Form: 7/22675

Bold Emperor^t¹³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: J C McConnell| OR: 112| D

2/1

Hasn't raced over hurdles since September 2017 but handles soft ground and isn't fully exposed after making just seven career starts (1-4 over timber); only his second run in a handicap, so keep a close eye on the market; of interest.

Form: 51/P7-

Forecasts

Bold Emperor (2/1), Cornborough (3/1), Crixus's Escape (7/2), Beau Et Sublime (15/2), Spirit Of Kayf (9/1), Apache Jack (14/1), Deepsand (25/1)

There are obvious question marks against the majority of those declared, so this rates as a very winnable looking Class 3 handicap hurdle. A number of the runners have witnessed precious little in the way of competitive action in recent years including the once useful novice Spirit of Kayf, the capable mud-lark Deepsand and the very noteworthy Irish raider Bold Emperor. Crixus's Escape will be suited by dropping back in trip (to 2m), albeit he is almost certainly high enough in the weights off a mark of 121, so a clear preference is for the November Wetherby winner CORNBOROUGH. He has possibly been left off lightly with a subsequent 4lb rise in the weights.