racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 5m 53.70s

Minella Warrior^t⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133

2/1

Very difficult to knock his hurdles form so far, and has made a smooth transition into handicap company; went down by a neck to the subsequent Pertemps Final-placed Not Many Left at Huntingdon (3m1f, good to soft) in January; now 3lb higher.

Form: 82/1142

Isaacstown Lad⁹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 129| D

18/1

Stout stayer who will relish the give underfoot; 4lb higher than when making a winning seasonal return at Carlisle (3m1f, soft) in December; beaten just under 5L when finishing fourth of five to Eminent Poet in this race last year.

Form: 334-001

Diamond Fort²²

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

7/2

Hasn't seen too much racing since winning back-to-back 2m3f+ contests in 2017 (including at Wetherby); back on song when just failing to reel in Oh Land Abloom at Uttoxeter (2m7f+, good); now 2lb higher.

Form: 1P9-942

Know The Score^p1,t1⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 123| D

2/1

Purchased for £380,000 in November 2017; comfortable winner of a 2m4f Hexham maiden (soft) on his second hurdles start; a shade disappointing in sole subsequent appearance; tries handicapping with a tongue-tie and cheekpieces newly applied.

Form: 110-313

Bryden Boy^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 122| D

16/1

Beaten a neck by Lord Getaway at Uttoxeter (2m7f+, heavy) in December and he'd hold a chance if able to consistently reproduce that level of form; poor since; has finished runner-up on both previous Wetherby outings.

Form: 0-87267

Skipthescales^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 121| BF| CD

8/1

Lost his unbeaten record over fences with a below-par effort at Carlisle (3m+, good to soft) last month; reverts to hurdling from a mark which is 8lb above his last winning one at Carlisle in March 2018; past C&D winner.

Form: 13-0116

Forecasts

Minella Warrior (2/1), Know The Score (2/1), Diamond Fort (7/2), Skipthescales (8/1), Bryden Boy (16/1), Isaacstown Lad (18/1)

The costly Know The Score is untested outside of maiden/novice company and returns with a plethora of newly applied aids, whilst both Diamond Fort and the veteran Isaacstown Lad have risen marginally in the weights after pleasing efforts at Uttoxeter and Carlisle respectively. However, the one to be with is the Kim Bailey-trained MINELLA WARRIOR. This lightly-raced 7yo has made a smooth transition into handicap company and went down all guns blazing after a mistake at the final flight at Huntingdon latest. That form received a timely boost with the winner Not Many Left finishing a close third in last week's Pertemps Final at Cheltenham.