Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 7m 2.4s

Planet Nine⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 135| D

5/4

Stable appear to be finding their feet again; returned from a year off to run a good second at Ayr to Justatenner (3m, soft). 3lb better off for a 2L defeat matters should be close between these two again; good claims if he can run to the same level.

Form: 3114/5-2

Becky The Thatcher^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 132| C

11/4

Fair on the Flat, over hurdles she's an out-and-out stayer (has won over 2m2f on the Flat, stays 3m over hurdles). Won on Flat and over hurdles earlier in the year but failed to come on from her comeback run (2m4f) last time, 3m will suit better.

Form: 52-2155

Taxmeifyoucan^p⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 127

9/4

Form over hurdles has been a little uneven with his temperament often coming under suspicion. Scored over 2m4f at Hexham in October, helped by a career-low mark/leader unseating at the last; not disgraced when last seen, does need to step up.

Form: 0468-14

Presence Felt⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 114| D

16/1

Turn the clock back far enough and there are some decent efforts on his CV but he's been below-par this year. Returned from a breathing op last time (may have needed the run after six months off); dropped away quickly, something to find.

Form: 303-268

Non-Runners

Justatenner²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 8

T: T Davidson J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Planet Nine (5/4), Justatenner (13/8), Taxmeifyoucan (9/4), Becky The Thatcher (11/4), Presence Felt (16/1)

Despite there only being five runners this is a trappy little event and there is a doubt as to whether the pace will be strong enough for Justatenner (best held up off a sound pace) to be seen at his best. He suffered from the lack of a gallop at Bangor last time and that may enable PLANET NINE to reverse the Ayr form with him with Rose Dobbin’s charge given time to get over his Scottish exertions after he was returning from a long break. A positive market move for Becky The Thatcher would signal a better performance than she’s produced of late whilst Taxmeifyoucan can’t be ruled out but his quirky nature does ring alarm belle on occasions.