Chancellor Of The Formchecker Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 38.3s

Arthington²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 129| D

7/2

Three-time novice hurdle winner; taken time to find his feet in handicaps (initial mark looked harsh), appreciated the drop in grade last time to regain winning form. Consistent sort generally and should find a 4lb rise within his compass.

Form: 03-5091

Dream Du Grand Val^h1⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125

1/1

Failed to win over hurdles in France (0-6) but showed that he has the ability to win in handicaps last time at Cheltenham (may have needed the race). Still relatively unexposed (hooded first-time now); goes off the same mark here, up 2f in trip.

Form: P4243-6

Darcy Ward^t1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 123

7/1

Winning point-to-pointer who made a successful start to his Rules career in a 2m3f novice but has struggled to find his form in handicaps of late off a break. Both his handicaps have come over further; now drops in trip, but point to prove.

Form: 1162-7P

First Figaro³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 123

4/1

Smart dual bumper winner in Ireland who scored on stable debut in novice company at Hereford (2m, good). Rather thrown in at the deep end for his handicap debut (big-field, top-class contest); will find this a little easier, yard still in good form.

Form: 1939-10

Twenty Twenty¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116| CD

14/1

Well-bred for hurdles (half-brother to Supersundae); made a successful hurdles debut over C&D in September. Rather anchored by his penalty in two subsequent juvenile events he now makes his handicap debut; has a tough ask.

Form: 163

Non-Runners

Magic Dancer¹⁵

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: Kerry Lee J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Dream Du Grand Val (1/1), Magic Dancer (9/4), Arthington (7/2), First Figaro (4/1), Darcy Ward (7/1), Twenty Twenty (14/1)

Just a small field for the opener but that doesn’t make it any easier to solve with Arthington looking to continue his return to form off top weight, a mark he should cope with but he may just find one or two who are a little more unexposed. First Figaro certainly deserves a mention in that category and he’ll find this handicap easier than Ascot last time. DREAM DU GRAND VAL may still be a maiden but he did well to hold his own in a competitive Cheltenham handicap on his GB debut and off the same mark and with a hood going his first win may not be far away. Magic Dancer looked suited by the change of tactics last time and his yard may be coming out of the doldrums.