William Purslow Memorial Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 2.0s

Hit The Highway^p,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-3| J: Harry Reed| T: C Gordon| OR: 102| D

3/1

Beaten 30L when finishing fifth of six on return to chasing over 3m at Kempton (good-to-soft) last time out. Drop in distance looks likely to suit and is well handicapped on his hurdles form.

Form: 32-90F5

Don Des Fosses^p1,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Harry Teal⁽³⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 101

14/1

Good second in a handicap chase over an extended 2m at Sedgefield (good) when wearing a visor for the first time in February. Well beaten at Stratford subsequently and cheekpieces are tried in this contest.

Form: 58P028

Finnegan's Garden²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Page Fuller| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 97| CD

4/1

Recorded his fifth chase success when winning over 2m2f at Fontwell (soft) last time out. Raised 3lb for that victory and is one to note having won over this C&D in the past.

Form: 293261

Western Morning^t,v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: M F Harris| OR: 94| D

15/8

Good second over 2m in a handicap chase at Taunton (good-to-soft) on his penultimate start. Decent effort in defeat when fourth at Exeter (2m3f, good-to-soft) subsequently and has a top conditional booked to ride.

Form: 451024

Mrs Burbidge^p,t⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁶⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 87| D

6/1

Well held 19L fourth over an extended 2m3f at Ffos Las (soft) in a handicap chase in January. Returning from a break here having finished eighth in a handicap on the Flat the following month.

Form: 478274

Flashman^b¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁸⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 85| C

8/1

Dual course winner but struggled on first start of 2019 when beaten 43L at Huntingdon (good) last time out. Market support would be notable in this event.

Form: 4755-P5

Forecasts

Western Morning (15/8), Hit The Highway (3/1), Finnegan's Garden (4/1), Mrs Burbidge (6/1), Flashman (8/1), Don Des Fosses (14/1)

HIT THE HIGHWAY looks capable of improving on his return to fences last time out by taking this six runner handicap chase. The selection has won off higher marks over hurdles in the past and can get the better of Finnegan's Garden who was a winner last time out. Third place can go the way of Western Morning who has been running well in defeat in recent starts.