Wye Valley Brewery 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 16.7s

Earlofthecotswolds²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125| D

5/4

Made no mistake when dropped down to class 4 handicap winning with something to spare at Market Rasen last time. Up 8lb in a better race here so needs to take another step forward.

Form: 162151

Rhythm Is A Dancer^t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124| D

7/2

Been in excellent form of late but was pulled up worryingly quickly at Kempton five days ago. Clearly felt that nothing was wrong and has very strong form claims for yard that a re flying at present.

Form: 12115P

Voodoo Doll⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123

5/1

Completed a hat-trick last year with the last of those wins coming off a 5lb lower mark. Run with credit on several occasions since and sure to give it another good go with conditions ideal.

Form: 223853

Mon Port^h³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 122

9/2

Won on debut for this yard at Huntingdon but has been a little expensive to follow since (twice a beaten favourite). Makes handicap debut off what looks a good mark with Richard Johnson back aboard. Major player.

Form: 2/1-1223

Three Bullet Gate⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: C Poste| T: R Dickin| OR: 109

10/1

Bits and pieces of promise so far over hurdles and shaped like a step back up to this sort of trip will help on handicap debut at Warwick last time. Could rustle a few feathers if able to build on that now.

Form: 36286

Forecasts

Earlofthecotswolds (5/4), Rhythm Is A Dancer (7/2), Mon Port (9/2), Voodoo Doll (5/1), Three Bullet Gate (10/1)

Good little contest this and if all is well with Rhythm Is A Dancer he could be pretty hard to beat back in this grade. MON PORT looks to have been given a lenient mark for handicap debut and makes plenty of appeal under the champion jockey.