Gordon Banks Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 6m 35.8s

Flashjack²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 135

3/1

3lb higher (career high mark) than when winning on soft ground at Fontwell (3m2f) in March; found the frame on seasonal reappearance at Ayr (3m, soft) three weeks ago when a one-paced third to Justatenner; contender.

Form: 23517-3

Coole Cody^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: M Blake| OR: 133

11/4

Unsuccessfully contested competitive handicaps last spring, including Grade 3 contests at Cheltenham and Aintree; appreciates cut underfoot; 4lb lower than when finishing 9L second to Lord Napier at Sandown (2m7½f, soft) in March.

Form: P6200-8

Tea Time Fred^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 123| D

10/1

His winning run came to an end when a weakening fourth (beaten 17L) to Sirobbie in a Class 2 C&D handicap (soft) 37 days ago; 8lb above his last winning mark and possibly won't relish hock deep underfoot conditions; that said, isn't discounted.

Form: 661114

Silva Eclipse²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 122

4/1

Like the vast majority of his stablemates, he has under-performed so far this season; fourth in this race last year, a definite case can be made on the basis of his neck second to Sykes at Haydock (3m, good) in February - 4lb lower.

Form: 22P6-86

River Arrow¹⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 120

11/2

Runner-up in a Class 2 mares' handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in December 2017 but hasn't seen a great deal of racing since (missed all of 2018); ground fine, 3m trip questionable; may need the run on her first start for 191 days.

Form: 352/95-7

Shantung²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 119

11/2

Sole win came in a 2m3½f mares' maiden at Lingfield (good to soft) last November, beating Evidence De Thaix by 12L; sits on a reasonably fair mark and could improve for her comeback run, but stamina is taken solely on trust.

Form: 61530-8

Forecasts

Coole Cody (11/4), Flashjack (3/1), Silva Eclipse (4/1), River Arrow (11/2), Shantung (11/2), Tea Time Fred (10/1)

A tricky race which lacks a standout contender. Tea Time Fred found a Class 2 C&D handicap too competitive latest as a winning sequence came to an end, while Flashjack competes from a career high mark following a fair comeback third at Ayr. Nevertheless, it's perfectly feasible that either of those aforementioned horses can prevail given the fact that a winning mentality appears to be instilled in their DNA. However, at the projected odds a chance is taken on the Sue Smith-trained six-year-old SILVA ECLIPSE in the hope that he can snap a barren sequence for the West Yorkshire based handler.