Iron Stand Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 5m 36.1s

Kings Ryde²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

11/10

Made a good start in handicaps, winning at the first attempt at Wincanton (2m5½f, good to soft) last time, when 5lb lower. Won going away there, so every chance he can defy this rise now back up in trip. Has won on good.

Form: 3123-1

Sir Will^p,t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 129| CD

9/1

Won this last year (soft) when 5lb lower. Ran well on good ground next time at Ayr, so handles the ground despite having only won on softer. However, his two runs since wind surgery have to be a clear cause for concern.

Form: 1314-7P

Peak To Peak²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

9/2

On a handy mark here and goes well on good/fast ground. Recent form a bit of a concern, but step up in trip might help him find a bit of improvement, and he has to be taken seriously.

Form: 511/3-P7

Black Buble³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: A W Carroll| OR: 121

9/2

Arrives in good form, having won two of his last three at up to 2m5f on good. Up 13lb for the more recent of those, but did that by an easy 12L. Tougher company here, but ope to more improvement over this trip. Very interesting.

Form: 553151

Ballyheigue Bay^p,t²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Reed| T: C Gordon| OR: 119| CD

25/1

C&D winner on soft ground from this mark last season. This season's form has been well short of that, and powers now possibly on the wane. Conditions also a concern.

Form: 2-3PPU6

Unblinking^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁶⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 115| BF

7/1

Came good over hurdles at the seventh attempt when a 6L Warwick handicap winner (2m5f, soft) in November. 10lb higher here, and his form in the interim suggests that he has a bit to prove at this level.

Form: 62-2155

Non-Runners

Gunfleet⁷³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Patrick Cowley

Faithful Mount⁴

Weight: 10-1| Age: 10

T: Ian Williams J: Edward Austin

Forecasts

Kings Ryde (11/10), Black Buble (9/2), Peak To Peak (9/2), Faithful Mount (13/2), Unblinking (7/1), Gunfleet (8/1), Sir Will (9/1), Ballyheigue Bay (25/1)

A good contest of its type. Black Buble arrives in great form and will rightly have his supporters again, but a 13lb hike and better company is going to ask questions of him and he looks worth taking on with KINGS RYDE. Nicky Henderson's gelding was not as flamboyant in winning at Wincanton, but he has scope for improvement and might be the one today. Peak To Peak and the veteran Faithful Mount are others of interest.