Foxy & Matilda On Signal 1 Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 6.50s

Moroval¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Graham Carson⁽⁷⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 104

100/1

Raced 15 times without success in Ireland at up to 3m with best placed efforts coming at sround 2m3f. Didn't show much on first start for new handler at Huntingdon recently and will do very well to be in the shake-up.

Form: P/F750-7

Du Destin^p1¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 103

9/2

Top yard operating at 35% at present. 6lb higher than creditable second at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, his first start since a wind operation. Is unexposed and could improve for this longer trip and cheekpieces so rates a serious contender .

Form: 09607/2-

Oldabbey Bridge³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: C Hobson| OR: 102

33/1

Hasn't shown very much in four starts under Rules although not disgraced last time over 2m. Big step up in trip on handicap bow, but yard without a winner for four years. Worth a market check though.

Form: P3P04-

Sirobbie²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 100| CD

5/4

Built on pormise of previous run when scoring over C&D last time despite some sloppy jumping. Just 5lb higher and should go well again. Is preferred to stable companion Brandy James.

Form: U0554-1

Silent Encore^p,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: B I Case| OR: 95

3/1

15 starts without success but ran his best race for a long time when runner-up to Sirobbie here last time at big odds. Is 3lb better off with the winner for two lengths but hasn't been one to rely on in the past.

Form: 574PP-2

Glorious Boru²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 94

9/2

Won modest point-to-point last year but nothing to write home about in this sphere to date. Has run with some credit last two starts though and a place is by no means out of the question in a moderate affair.

Form: 88073-5

Non-Runners

Brandy James¹⁸

Weight: 11-11| Age: 4

T: H Whittington J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sirobbie (5/4), Silent Encore (3/1), Glorious Boru (9/2), Du Destin (9/2), Brandy James (11/2), Oldabbey Bridge (33/1), Moroval (100/1)

DU DESTIN could be better than these and represents top connections so gets a fairly confident vote. He ran well when last seen in action and this step up in trip looks the right call. Sirobbie beat Silent Encore by a couple of lengths here last time and there shouldn't be much between them, although the former looks to have more scope for improvement. Glorious Boru is not completely out of it but needs to raise his game despite bottom weight.