Happy New Year Selling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:07 | Winning time: 5m 15.75s

Wells De Lune^t¹²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Peter Bryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 136| BF

13/2

Was successful at Cartmel (2m1f) three starts ago. Has been unable to follow that up in two runs since, including latest when he was fourth of five over fences at Cartmel (2m1½f) as the evens favourite. Big player on his return to hurdles.

Form: 204134

Skeaping²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr S Lee⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 115| C

3/1

Recorded back-to-back wins in October at this course (2m) and Stratford (2m½f) respectively. Was well held at Leicester (2m4½f) last time in a class four seller. Is very capable at this level so he is one for the shortlist.

Form: 611323

Phoenix Dawn^b,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: L Allan| OR: 114

8/1

Has been disappointing since his return to action after a lengthy lay off. He could only finish 10th of 13 in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster last time over the extended 2m trip after going off at 40/1. Others make a greater appeal.

Form: 37/615-0

Airton^t,v²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 110

11/8

His sole success over hurdles came at Taunton (2m½f) back in February. He came back sixth of nine at Haydock (2m7f) on his latest outing. Is down in distance again now. Can't be discounted at this level.

Form: F585F6

Clearly Capable²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 98| BF| D

6/1

Prevailed on his penultimate start at Leicester (2m4½f) where he justified going off as the 11/8 favourite to score by ½L. Was unable to follow that up last time at that same course (1m7½f) as he was fourth of five. One to consider.

Form: 2-23314

Non-Runners

General Allenby¹²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: S L Keightley J: E J Walsh

Forecasts

Airton (11/8), Skeaping (3/1), Clearly Capable (6/1), Wells De Lune (13/2), Phoenix Dawn (8/1), General Allenby (16/1)

WELLS DE LUNE is the standout horse in the race here and although he has a lot of weight to concede to his rivals, he should have the class to prevail on his return to hurdles over a trip which suits him. Skeaping has already been successful twice this season, including a victory at this course, and is more than capable of being in the mix once again here, while Clearly Capable is likely to offer a strong challenge on his return to this distance.