Colin Kershaw Retiring From Brookes Bell Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 4m 1.90s

Dream Machine⁸⁷

11/4

Holds an attractive profile after building on the promise he showed at Ffos Las (2m; good) when runner-up to go one better over this C&D. Drew 13-length clear of the third then and is an intriguing recruit to the handicap sphere.

Form: 21

Beach Break^b⁴¹

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

7/2

Not one to have maximum interest in at the moment. Beaten a country mile at Cartmel (2m1f; soft) last month (albeit in a slightly higher grade), and is best watched for the time being.

Form: 4280-46

Royal Reserve²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113

9/4

Narrowly lost out when third in a three-way photo-finish over C&D at the start of the month. That was an improved showing on his staying-on fifth of nine at Perth (2m; good to soft) on return from a break and he is a big player.

Form: 1373-53

Desiremoi D'Authie⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 109

11/1

Pulled-up on return from five-month break when well-held at Market Rasen (2m; good) last month. Likely to strip fitter now, but has questions to answer on that evidence. Watching brief advised.

Form: P3424-P

Nefyn Bay^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| D

33/1

Has reverted to hurdles in a trio of efforts since returning to action this year, and is tremendously difficult to fancy on what he has shown so far in those runs. Back down to his last winning mark over the smaller obstacles though.

Form: 14P-909

Embole^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 103

7/2

Out of form at present and was well beaten in this grade at Worcester (2m4f; good) earlier this month. Losing run is also beginning to mount and so he is opposed.

Form: 567P-87

Non-Runners

Champagne Mist¹¹⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: L Treadwell

Birch Vale⁴¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: D McCain Jnr J: W T Kennedy

Forecasts

Royal Reserve (9/4), Dream Machine (11/4), Birch Vale (10/3), Beach Break (7/2), Embole (7/2), Champagne Mist (11/2), Desiremoi D'Authie (11/1), Nefyn Bay (33/1)

After making a promising start to life at this level when runner-up to an in-form rival at Warwick, Champagne Mist must enter considerations. He is still lightly raced and is competing off just a 3lb higher mark now. Royal Reserve took a good step forward from his seasonal return at Perth to go close over C&D at the beginning of the month and is a major player off just 1lb higher. However, the selection is DREAM MACHINE who looked an exciting hurdles recruit when getting the better of Gunnery over this C&D recently, and can make a successful transition to the handicap ranks off what is a fair enough mark.