racingtv.com Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 4m 37.6s

Royal Reserve¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117

5/6

Useful on the Flat (89-rated); made a winning debut for Lucinda Russell at Newcastle (2m, good to soft) in January beating the subsequent dual scorer Wishful Dreaming by 1L; has kept fair form since; stablemate of Make It Happen.

Form: 444/137

Desert Island Dusk^t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 114

5/2

Yet to win away from Hexham but on the premises elsewhere in a couple of recent starts, notably when short-headed by Liva at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft); 3lb higher, and has struggled in a stronger race (Class 3) at Wetherby since.

Form: 344226

The Herds Garden^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109

9/1

Mixes hurdling with chasing, and whilst it's fair to say that he's difficult to win with period, he did so off a 4lb lower mark at Catterick (2m, good) on New Years Day; finished 15+L third of six to Empire De Maulde at Doncaster latest.

Form: F42133

Make It Happen^p²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁶⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 93| CD

11/2

3lb lower than when making virtually all to beat Lastin' Memories by a nose in this contest in 2018 (heavy); recent form figures aren't the most inspiring; almost certainly needed the run at Carlisle three-weeks ago; stablemate of Royal Reserve.

Form: U73P0P

Forecasts

Royal Reserve (5/6), Desert Island Dusk (5/2), Make It Happen (11/2), The Herds Garden (9/1)

A trappy-looking finale in which you'd probably give all four runners a chance of sorts. However, we'll nail our colours to the mast with the top-weight ROYAL RESERVE. He's one of two declared runners for Lucinda Russell, and is the pick of Blair Campbell (was aboard stablemate Make It Happen in this race twelve months ago). He should appreciate this slightly easier assignment after finishing in the ruck behind Winston C in a valuable Class 2 handicap hurdle here (2m, good) just over a fortnight ago.