Gap Personnel Head Office Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 5m 46.93s

Murphy's Law¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 111

5/4

Yet to race this far under Rules but kept on stoutly when just denied over 2m4f at Perth last time and could improve for the longer trip. 4lb higher for yard in good form at present.

Form: 5448-42

Handy Hollow¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110| CD

11/2

Came home with a wet sail to score over C&D in June off 4lb lower mark but hasn't made much impression in two runs since. 2-4 course record suggests he's better here than elsewhere though so not impossible he might bounce back.

Form: 36U-169

Polished Rock^t,v1⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 109

12/1

Won three times last autumn at up to around this trip but jumped 16lb in the process. Best effort since when runner-up at Ffos Las in June and first-time visor may help focus his mind.

Form: 1178-42

Montys Angel^p,t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 109| BF

3/1

17-race Irish maiden prior to joining current yard in July where won at first time of asking landing Market Rasen 2m4f h'cap hurdle. Looked held in second when ran out at final flight at Southwell last month and more needed to defy 6lb rise.

Form: 3343-1R

Craig Star¹⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105

16/1

Stable companion of Handy Hollow. Last win came off 11lb lower mark at Kelso in heavy ground in January 2018 over 2m2f but has won over further and stays this trip. Poor run latest in blinkers (left off now) at Kelso in March.

Form: 825557-

Codeshare^t1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 102

11/2

Stayed on well to score over 2m4f at ffos Las in June off 5lb lower mark. Faded fast from last at Cartmel recently over shorter and first-time tongue-tie now applied. Yet to race this far so stamina has to be taken on trust.

Form: 043-417

Miss Lanefox^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin| OR: 96

40/1

Irish raider who has shown precious little so far in three runs in novice and maiden hurdles. Makes handicap debut here stepping up half a mile following latest last of 8 at Downpatrick and makes little appeal.

Form: PP468

Forecasts

Murphy's Law (5/4), Montys Angel (3/1), Handy Hollow (11/2), Codeshare (11/2), Polished Rock (12/1), Craig Star (16/1), Miss Lanefox (40/1)

With his stable in good form at present top weight MURPHY'S LAW looks worth having on side having given the impression last time that the extra three furlongs here might bring about further improvement. Handy Hollow looks the main danger and goes well at this venue so may leave behind him a couple of poor recent runs elsewhere. Montys Angel won on debut for her top yard and appeared to have turned over a new leaf before running out when held at Southwell last time. She remains a contender though, along with Polished Rock, who may be helped by the application of the visor.