C&S Electrical Wholesale Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 6m 10.30s

Criq Sun^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 111

4/1

Won a modest handicap in Ireland before being well held in a Class 4 on his British racing debut at Doncaster last month. Held when falling over 2m3f here since, upped in distance now and too soon to write off, drops in class.

Form: 83716F

Master Tradesman^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 104| D

9/4

Went very close in Bangor maiden hurdle last April but has struggled in handicaps since then, including a couple of recent runs at Uttoxeter. Handicapper takes a chance here.

Form: 2-85P6P

Fight Commander^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 100| D

9/4

Prominent in the betting on all three starts since joining Olly Murphy and hasn't really looked like justifying it. First run over hurdles since 2014. Not exactly thrown in back over timber.

Form: 22-523P

Lakeside Pearl³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 86

6/1

Showed little in Ireland and barely got competitive in nine starts there for Pat Kelly. Fared a little better in Sedgefield handicap (2m4f, good to soft) last month on debut for this trainer and possible improver.

Form: 008-005

Cold Fusion¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 85

6/1

Unreliable and temperamental sort, second in a novice selling hurdle at Exeter last month but once more disappointed since back at that track and hard to be overly confident which version will turn up.

Form: P/66525

Forecasts

Master Tradesman (9/4), Fight Commander (9/4), Criq Sun (4/1), Lakeside Pearl (6/1), Cold Fusion (6/1)

Cold Fusion is unreliable but could certainly go close on a going day while Lakeside Pearl is considered a possible improver on second outing for Jamie Snowden but this may go to CRIQ SUN. He's eased in grade and finds a weak event, while the step up in distance should be in his favour. Fight Commander has been well-backed to no avail over fences since joining Olly Murphy and now reverts to hurdles, he would have claims if reproducing the best of last year's efforts.