Andy Stratton Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 30.80s

Hastrubal¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110

11/2

Useful handicap hurdler for Henry Daly, if a little hard to win with. Made a perfectly respectable debut for new yard here last time (bit keen), should improve a bit on that and won't mind the ground. Chances here.

Form: 22264-7

Todd¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 108

9/2

Put in a better effort at Bangor last time, finishing a close third, and this step back up in trip will suit him, but the big sticking point is the ground, with his best form to date coming on quicker. On that, others make more appeal.

Form: 3125-83

Gallahers Cross¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 105| D

16/1

Pulled up no trees during his time with Nicky Henderson and has been well beaten in three starts for his new yard too. Takes a step up in trip, which may help, but it takes a bit of a leap of faith to get on board today.

Form: 4/47-880

Holy Motivation^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 104| BF| D

2/1

Yard mop up here, and she looks the one to beat on her latest C&D second (soft ground) last month. Merely needs a repeat of that to take her close, and in a race lacking depth, she has to have a major chance.

Form: 25096-2

Rainy City^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 102| CD

7/2

Tale of woe this season until putting in a much better effort over C&D last time out, sticking on well after the last for a close fourth. Deep ground would ask a question of him, but he's nicely treated these days and can't be ruled out.

Form: 95-3PP4

Echo Express²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 98

5/1

Useful handicap hurdler at this sort of level, handles soft ground well and will come on for his Cartmel run last month, but this trip is a huge question for him, with best form coming over much shorter. Risky, but chances if he stays.

Form: P214P-4

Some Ambition^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 87

28/1

Tailed off/pulled up most starts and hard to make any solid case for on recent form. Others readily bring stronger profiles into the race, and he may find it an uphill struggle once more.

Form: 05/6P8P

Forecasts

Holy Motivation (2/1), Rainy City (7/2), Todd (9/2), Echo Express (5/1), Hastrubal (11/2), Gallahers Cross (16/1), Some Ambition (28/1)

Hastrubal will come good for Sandy Thompson sooner rather than later and isn't out of this, but Gordon Elliott looks to have the answer with HOLY MOTIVATION, who only need repeat her run here last time to hold a first-rate chance. Echo Express will be dangerous if he lasts out over this 3m trip, but that's not a given. Rainy City might prefer quicker ground but that goes for one or two here, and he might be best of the rest.