Sky Sports Racing On 415 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 24.20s

Shetland Bus¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J Kington| T: Justin Landy| OR: 116

8/1

With Paul Nolan when placed in a 3m maiden hurdle at Wexford (good) in July; has since joined Justin Landy for £10,000; one to monitor fairly closely in the market exchanges.

Form: 62P-634

Sleepy Haven³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 112| D

9/2

Without a win for some considerable time but was beaten just a short-head by Saint Freule in this race last year (now rated 4lb lower); no match for the decisive winner Attention Seaker (Frightened Rabbit third) at Carlisle (2m4f) latest.

Form: 435642

Duchess Ravenwaves^t1⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathan Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 111| BF

7/2

Dual Flat winner (at around 1m4f); 0-6 over hurdles and was a beaten favourite at Killarney (2m1f, yielding to soft) latest; her never nearer fourth to Relegate (beaten 21L) at Naas last December reads well in the context of this race; chance.

Form: 24470-6

Challow^v¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: V Thompson| OR: 110

50/1

43-race maiden; was having his first start for the Embleton trainer Victor Thompson when a one-paced fourth (beaten 19L) to Ribble Valley over C&D 12 days ago; this is a more realistic target, that said others are preferred.

Form: 8-P2064

Frightened Rabbit¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 110| CD

10/3

Productive and consistent since returning to the track in May, with three wins (including over C&D) and four second placed finishes recorded; has previous with Sleepy Haven; 8lb higher than when making all at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) 17 days ago.

Form: 412131

Applaus^b⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 109| CD

5/1

Has fallen back to a workable mark and was a shade unfortunate on his penultimate start at Southwell (rider dropped the reins on the run-in); eases in grade after tackling a Class 3 contest at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) on Saturday.

Form: PP-8324

Monfass^h²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 106

9/2

Handily weighted on the basis of historic form and fully proven in these conditions for a stable back among the winners; 4lb higher than when finishing 4½L second to the well-backed Gennady at Kelso (2m, good to soft) 25 days ago; major player.

Form: 2/0897-2

Forecasts

Frightened Rabbit (10/3), Duchess Ravenwaves (7/2), Sleepy Haven (9/2), Monfass (9/2), Applaus (5/1), Shetland Bus (8/1), Challow (50/1)

A compact opener in which the market could yield some significant clues for the likes of Shetland Bus and Duchess Ravenwaves, while Frightened Rabbit arrives following a smooth victory at Carlisle (now rated 8lb higher). However, with the Rose Dobbin yard among the winners with a degree of regularity in recent weeks, the likeliest solution comes courtesy of the handily-weighted MONFASS. Proven in these conditions he chased home a well-backed winner on seasonal reappearance at Kelso (2m, good to soft).