MansionBet Faller Insurance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 5m 3.0s

Oscar Nomination⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 97

13/8

Finished runner-up in 50% of his starts in PTP's (4-8); hasn't figured in either start under rules, but those runs were over inadequate trips (2m-2m2f+) in novice company; up in trip against moderate opposition on handicap debut; chance.

Form: P4-2245

Katebird^p1⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 95

10/3

Four-time Flat winner for Mark Johnston (1m-1m2f); nine-race maiden over hurdles, with cheekpieces now introduced for the first-time; beaten just 1½L when finishing third to Lara Trot at Leicester (2m4f+, good) in January; lacks scope.

Form: 933043

Ormskirk^b²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 90

6/1

His sole win over hurdles came when making all at Les Landes (Jersey) in August 2018; now 0-4 for Johnny Farrelly with few obvious signs that he can cut the mustard on the mainland; plunging down the weights at a rate of knots.

Form: 0F0900

Georgian Firebird^t⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: B Leavy| OR: 90

17/2

Runner-up on a couple of occasions on deep ground at Uttoxeter (2m); has a chance from a handicapping perspective off a 3lb lower mark, albeit today's fast drying conditions aren't expected to prove favourable; stablemate of Deep Resolve.

Form: P-PF22P

Deep Resolve¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Leavy| OR: 89

8/1

Not the force of old when a two-time Hexham hurdles winner for the late Alan Swinbank in the winter of December 2014; difficult to make a case for under such conditions; stablemate of Georgian Firebird.

Form: P/7-0847

Darsi's Jewel¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 88

8/1

Cheap purchase (cost a mere €1,500 as a 3yo); hasn't seen much in the way of racing, but took a step forward on selling handicap debut at Catterick (1m7f+) latest; not totally ruled out in a weak race.

Form: 0P46

Asknotwhat^b,t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: T R Gretton| OR: 87

18/1

Maiden over hurdles (0-6), although in absolute free-fall in the weights (down 21lb) since his last timber spin in August 2016; pulled up over fences on debut for Tom Gretton here (2m1f) last month.

Form: 44F/64P

Forecasts

Oscar Nomination (13/8), Katebird (10/3), Ormskirk (6/1), Deep Resolve (8/1), Darsi's Jewel (8/1), Georgian Firebird (17/2), Asknotwhat (18/1)

With the greatest of respect to all involved connections this is a desperately weak handicap hurdle. Katebird has the proven ability on the Flat and will probably start favourite on account of the porous opposition but with her stamina very much up for debate (lacks any real scope) she's perfectly beatable. The Barry Leavy-trained duo ideally require deep ground, whilst Darsi's Jewel is unexposed but evidently no great shakes either. Therefore, a chance is taken on a couple against the field with the lightly-raced OSCAR NOMINATION preferred to the very well weighted, but badly out of form Asknotwhat.