Join Stratford Racecourse 25 Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 42.60s

Notwhatiam^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

5/1

Cut little ice in the Pertemps Final at the Festival having shown improved form when landing two handicaps when first joining this yard. Pulled up sharply last time (looked amiss); clearly no worse for that outing, in calmer waters here.

Form: 1F134P

Boreham Bill^h³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 132

4/1

Consistent sort over timber (failed to match that level of form over fences); shaped far better than his finishing position last time (easy to back). Bad mistake probably cost him the race; still on a mark that he can be competitive off.

Form: 29-4243

Graasten¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130

16/1

Chasing career looks on hold for now after he went backwards from a successful fencing debut. Looks to be on a stiff mark for his return to hurdles based on his recent chasing exploits; others appeal more.

Form: 6-13U2F

The Welsh Paddies^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 121

2/1

Got his and his trainer's season back on track when winning at Huntingdon last time (3m1f good-to-soft). Still lightly raced and unexposed in the staying sphere and should be able to cope with a 6lb rise; one for the shortlist.

Form: 150-P51

Atomic Rumble^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 114

9/2

In good form at this time last year taking back-to-back handicaps over shorter trips than he faces today but on similar ground. Form since those victories and off a break has not been of the same level; looks held by the handicapper now.

Form: 117765

Tea Time Fred^p¹¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 111| CD

8/1

Holding his form and running consistently well of late but looks vulnerable to any improvers with his losing run stretching back to May 2016. Needs some respite from the handicapper before he can be supported at this level.

Form: 427322

Gardiners Hill^t⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D A Rees| OR: 110| D

10/1

Mixed hurdling and chasing this season with great success scoring on three occasions. Ran with credit over fences last time looking ready for a real test; may find this track a little too sharp in a grade he's found tough before.

Form: 135155

Forecasts

The Welsh Paddies (2/1), Boreham Bill (4/1), Atomic Rumble (9/2), Notwhatiam (5/1), Tea Time Fred (8/1), Gardiners Hill (10/1), Graasten (16/1)

A few of these will find life tough in this grade and off the marks they are now saddled with but BOREHAM BILL looked a shade unlucky last time and still has a decent mark to work with. He does face a couple of strong rivals though headed by The Welsh Paddies who looked better than ever when scoring comfortably last time out and should cope with a 6lb higher mark. Notwhatiam disappointed last time in a hot Pertemps Final and encounters calmer waters here and given his smart Uttoxeter form earlier in the year he’s not out of this if he’s over what appeared to trouble him last time out.