Navigating Brexit With Vertem Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 0.54s

Albert's Back⁴²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 137| D

8/1

Five starts on Flat without success but is unbeaten in two starts over timber, both at Wetherby. Won very well last time and there could be more to come, but has plenty of weight for his handicap bow.

Form: 11-

Altruism⁵⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Callum Bewley| T: James Moffatt| OR: 135

16/1

All five wins have come at Cartmel, last time out over 2m6f back in summer 2017. Drops back to minimum trip and has long absence to overcome but worth noting for any market confidence on his return of 1lb higher mark.

Form: 112/P81-

Aristo Du Plessis³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J Ewart| OR: 133| D

9/2

Fine strike rate winning 10-32 most recently at Wetherby in December off 1lb lower mark. Disappointing last three starts since then but handicapper is relenting and a better show cannot be ruled out.

Form: 5P1684

Ted Veale³²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 131| D

6/1

Won 2013 County Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival but now well into veteran stage. Not disgraced for new connections on return to Rules after a couple of point-to-point starts when third at Kelso, has been dropped 3lb and not out of it if in the mood.

Form: 06-0143

Katgary^b⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 128

5/1

Long losing run since landing Perth h'cap chase in June 2016. Chance on best hurdles form and 4lb drop since last poor effort helps the cause. Has something to prove however.

Form: 44244-4

Joke Dancer³²⁹

10/3

Returns from wind surgery and won this race 12 months ago off 2lb lower mark in heavy ground. Better surface this time but is of interest if breathing is clear being less exposed than most of his rivals.

Form: 215115-

Zig Zag^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 120| D

3/1

Came good at Wetherby last time out off 2lb lower mark in Class 4 event, scrambling home and finding plenty for pressure. Tackles much better horses now but should run his race getting weight all round.

Form: 82-3641

Non-Runners

Ninepointsixthree¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: S England J: Jonathan England

Forecasts

Zig Zag (3/1), Joke Dancer (10/3), Aristo Du Plessis (9/2), Katgary (5/1), Ted Veale (6/1), Albert's Back (8/1), Ninepointsixthree (8/1), Altruism (16/1)

A very competitive handicap hurdle. The narrow choice is old man Ted Veale, a one-time smart handicaper for Tony Martin. He ran well enough last time off a higher mark and could give them all something to think about off this mark if back on song. Top weight Albert's Back is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles so there could be more to come. We'll find out a lot more about him here, while recent runaway winner Ninepointsixthree and last year's winner of this race Joke Dancer, are others with claims.