MansionBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 49.6s

Wynford^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 131| CD

25/1

2lb higher than when scoring over C&D (good; tongue-tie and blinkers) last July. Well below that form in all three starts this season, but two of those have been over shorter and two on testing ground. No surprise to see him much more competitive.

Form: 22170P

Redzor^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 130

9/1

Awarded the race when second past the post in a Ludlow maiden (3m, good) last month. Went up 8lb for that and was switched back to a novice event at Hereford last time, when 11L second under a penalty. More needed now handicapping from this mark.

Form: 1-23512

Silva Eclipse¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129

9/2

Scored for Jedd O'Keeffe in a maiden hurdle (2m, heavy) in 2017, but frustrating with five seconds from nine starts for this yard. Has twice gone very close this season, the latter from 3lb lower, but pulled up from this mark latest. More needed.

Form: 44222P

Back On The Lash⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: M Keighley| OR: 123

9/2

Has won both a bumper and a novice hurdle at Ludlow (both 2m, good) in the past 10-months. Twice taken out of intended races over further than that, and now gets his chance, from what looks a fair enough mark on handicap debut. Interesting.

Form: 131

Ballyhome⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 119

15/8

Came good at the fifth attempt over hurdles in a Wetherby novices' handicap (2m5f, good) in November, winning readily by 8L. Has been competitive from 3lb lower on his last two starts, but needs to find more after being nudged up again.

Form: 62-1532

Markov²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 118

10/1

Won his first two chases in the early part of last season, before losing his way. Signs of a revival over hurdles last time, after wind surgery. Conditions suit, and this trip should be no problem, so could kick on again from a handy mark.

Form: FP7-8P2

Faithful Mount^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113

5/1

Has not won over hurdles in nine starts since his debut in this sphere at Plumpton in 2015. Ran well when 10L second over 3m at Doncaster (good) last time. 1lb drop here, so can't rule him out of the frame again.

Form: 26/58F2

Forecasts

Ballyhome (15/8), Back On The Lash (9/2), Silva Eclipse (9/2), Faithful Mount (5/1), Redzor (9/1), Markov (10/1), Wynford (25/1)

Wynford could have a much bigger say now back over 3m on good ground, while Silva Eclipse, Ballyhome, Redzor and Faithful Mount are all possibles for the frame. However, for win purposes, the two that make greater appeal are Markov and BACK ON THE LASH, with the latter unexposed over this trip and just preferred from a mark that looks within his compass.