Happy Birthday Dylan Smith The Aviator Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 5m 8.4s

Kingrullah⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 120| CD

2/1

Opened his winning hurdles account with a novice win here (2m1f) before following up (and showing improved form) on his handicap debut over C&D. A progressive sort up 8lb in this contest but hard to rule out him completing the hat-trick.

Form: 566311

Lord Roccoco⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Colliver| T: P A Kirby| OR: 118

8/1

Consistent sort over hurdles having won on his second start at Hexham (2m, good/soft) in June. Followed that up after a break with two sound efforts in novice/handicap (debut) company; looks one of the main protagonists.

Form: 74-2123

Enfin Phil^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 114

9/4

Yet to win for this yard or in GB; well found in the market at Wetherby last time (first start back from a wind op) and stepped up on his reappearance run but failed to justify the support. Mark still looks a testing one and others are much preferred

Form: 3424-64

Nicely Indeed^p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 113| CD

16/1

Winner of this last year off an 11lb lower mark he then went and followed up over 2m5f here in January (won by 6L). Yet to fire this season though and has work to do with Enfin Phil on their running last time out at Wetherby.

Form: 1-055U9

Bulls Head⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 110| D

7/1

Failed to complete for the fourth time in a row over fences when last seen and with his jumping a concern in that sphere he reverts to hurdles. Only 2lb above his last winning hurdles mark; has scope to get involved if his confidence is still intact.

Form: 2/9FPP-F

Ormesher^p⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108

7/1

Successful on his first two starts over hurdles he's not tasted glory again in eight subsequent hurdling starts. Mixed jumping with some Flat exploits of late; cheekpieces refitted over a more suitable trip than last time; looks vulnerable.

Form: 348235

Arctic Road^p,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 108

12/1

Hasn't returned from his summer break in anything like the form he was in prior to taking some time off (recorded three hurdles wins). His run at Haydock last time hardly suggested he was likely to come back to life here; best watched.

Form: 811-P57

Forecasts

Kingrullah (2/1), Enfin Phil (9/4), Ormesher (7/1), Bulls Head (7/1), Lord Roccoco (8/1), Arctic Road (12/1), Nicely Indeed (16/1)

It’s not hard to have doubts about some of these with Bulls Head having to reconnect with hurdles after several chasing mishaps, Nicely Indeed not in the same form as when winning this last year and Enfin Phil still battling with the handicapper. Lord Roccoco appears to be on the upgrade and still nicely weighted for his second handicap start but he may have run into a real progressive type here in KINGRULLAH. Pauline Robson’s charge comes here looking for a course hat-trick with no worries over the trip or ground and although he’s up 8lb for his last win he looks more than able to cope with that impost with the excellent Brian Hughes taking over in the saddle.