Mid Warwickshire Cleaning Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 4m 24.6s

Cultivator²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| D

10/1

All or nothing merchant these days. Won over fences at Worcester (2m4f, good; 10-3) in September and also scored last year over timber at Warwick. String of poor efforts around that however, including being pulled up either side of a layoff.

Form: 10F1P-P

Mister Fizz⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss I Pickard| OR: 137| D

12/1

Veteran now, rapid-fire hat-trick last summer at Southwell and Newton Abbot over timber began from mark of 121. Asked tough questions at spring festivals on first two runs this year, but remains with something to prove after Cheltenham run in April.

Form: 116008-

Espoir De Teillee²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 134| D

7/2

Retuned from 485-day absence with excellent second on stable bow at Exeter (2m2½f, good to soft; 7-1) in March, though well held since at Cheltenham and Warwick. Yard in decent form, though perhaps needs more relief.

Form: 611/39-6

Cubswin²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: N B King| OR: 130

4/1

Mare followed up Wincanton success by adding decent pot at Haydock over just shy of 2m in April. Found it too hot back there in Grade 3 Swinton Handicap Hurdle since but calmer waters now and may go well upped in distance.

Form: 46511-P

Red Hot Chilly²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

2/1

Very consistent hurdler in 2018, Cheltenham success in November his second from nine attempts. Just run out of it (close fourth) back there in April and since stuck head out to win at Ludlow (2m, good). Up 5lb, should be in the firing line again.

Form: 22414-1

Constancio²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120

9/2

Won twice on the Flat for Jim Bolger and running at a consistent level over hurdles for his new yard in maiden/novice company, with a win at Doncaster in January. Tailed off in heavy-ground Chester Plate recently, should offer plenty more now.

Form: 221R32-

Forecasts

Red Hot Chilly (2/1), Espoir De Teillee (7/2), Cubswin (4/1), Constancio (9/2), Cultivator (10/1), Mister Fizz (12/1)

It was perhaps no shock that CUBSWIN found the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock a bridge too far but her prior successes at Wincanton and the Merseyside track suggested she was going to keep progressing. She can get back on track in what is now an easier task. From the foot of the weights, Constancio is likely to leave a tame Flat run on heavy going at Chester behind while Red Hot Chilly was nothing if not game at Ludlow last time and commands respect once more having gone up 5lb.