Sportpesa Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:41 | Winning time: 3m 54.8s

See The Sea¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| CD

5/4

Won three on Flat for Richard Hannon and in good form over hurdles for current yard with recent wins at Cartmel and over C&D. Makes handicap bow and appears stable first-string so should make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 2-211

So Lonely^h,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116

7/2

Won three of her last five starts but found step up to Galway Festival level beyond here last time following two month break. This looks more realistic and is only 4lb higher than last success at Warwick in May

Form: P11-310

Inn The Bull^p⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 113

12/1

Won at Ludlow and Worcester a few seasons back but didn't show too much in recent spin over hurdles when distant fourth at Southwell in June. Dropped 2lb but hails from top yard and has to be respected..

Form: 133P4/4

Outcrop¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J Candlish| OR: 107| CD

7/2

Stayed on well to just and the spoils over C&D last time having gone close at Perth a few weeks earlier. Seems in fine form and 2lb raise looks fair so should again be right in the mix.

Form: 652321

Zenafire¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 103| CD

9/1

Six wins on the Flat and only win from nine attempts over hurdles came over C&D back in May 2017 off 9lb higher mark. Not disgraced here last time over 2m3f but needs to raise his game to score dropping back in trip.

Form: 2415/6-6

The Herds Garden^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 101

14/1

Stable companion of See The Sea. Landed Catterick 2m h'cap hurdle on New Year's Day off 4lb higher mark. Ran well for a long way over C&D last time on first run following break, only fading on the run-in. Fair shout off 2lb lower mark.

Form: 332-568

Non-Runners

Solstalla⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: D Weston J: David Bass

Forecasts

See The Sea (5/4), Outcrop (7/2), So Lonely (7/2), Zenafire (9/1), Solstalla (10/1), Inn The Bull (12/1), The Herds Garden (14/1)

Donald McCain has a strong hand here with top weight See The Sea and bottom weight THE HERD'S GARDEN. The latter is narrowly preferred and would have gone close here last time but for seemingly blowing up on the run-on on first start back. See The Sea is in great heart and is a big danger as she bids for a hat-trick. Outcrop won bravely here last time out and could again be right there, while So Lonely will find this easier than her latest run at Galway. Inn The Bull may improve for his recent return to hurdles.