Biggest Ever Jumps Season On Racing TV Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 6m 13.20s

Hitman Fred^p⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 102

4/1

Cost £90,000 in May 2017 as a 4L winner of a 3m Bartlemy point (for Denis Paul Murphy); hasn't built upon a promising start under rules in a Kelso bumper, albeit the bulk of last seasons form is best ignored (stable under a cloud).

Form: 5/7350-9

Leverock Lass²⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed| T: T Reed| OR: 99| C

22/1

Sprung a 25-1 surprise when winning a mares' novices' hurdle over C&D (good to soft) last January; is probably flattered by that bare form with the 1-14f Queens Cave running deplorably; modest since and is returning from 293 days off the track.

Form: 17105-

Sporty Yankee^b,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Fergus Gregory| T: G Elliott| OR: 96| C

4/1

Has had various trainers over the years, including Karl Burke and Martin Keighley; lowly-rated after a brief spell with Aytach Sadik and nearly exploited that fact when runner-up to Se Mo Laoch at Fairyhouse (2m7f, heavy) 23 days ago.

Form: 6-P0082

Cheers Jd¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 87| BF

4/1

Westerner gelding; strong in the market when finishing third (lost second after the last) to Honourmission at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) on Boxing Day; ought to be positively involved with the 5lb claimer Joe Williamson taking over in the saddle.

Form: 40/7063

Duty Girl³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Ross Turner| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 84

8/1

Former Irish racer (D.J. Howard); 15-race maiden; ran her best race for a while on debut for Julia Brooke at Southwell (2m4½f, soft) in early December when beaten 11¾L (fourth) by the Tim Vaughan-trained Norwegian Woods.

Form: 800904

Meldrum Way²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Coltherd| T: Mark Campion| OR: 79

13/2

Nine-race maiden who has continued to ease in the weights since sent handicapping; fifth of 14 to the well-handicapped Starplex (subsequent winner Honourmission fourth) at Newcastle (2m4½f, soft) 25 days ago; closely matched with Epsom Des Mottes.

Form: 90-P675

Epsom Des Mottes^p1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: P A Kirby| OR: 77

7/2

Six-race maiden; finished sixth (immediately behind Meldrum Way) to the well-handicapped Starplex at Newcastle (2m4½f, soft) 25 days ago; is fitted with newly applied cheekpieces.

Form: P0-9586

Forecasts

Epsom Des Mottes (7/2), Sporty Yankee (4/1), Hitman Fred (4/1), Cheers Jd (4/1), Meldrum Way (13/2), Duty Girl (8/1), Leverock Lass (22/1)

Hitman Fred is yet to fulfil his potential for Rose Dobbin, although the bulk of last seasons efforts can be safely ignored (stable under a cloud). Meanwhile Cheers Jd is effectively 5lb lower (with the claim of Joe Williamson) than when a well-backed third at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. However, the selection is the much-travelled SPORTY YANKEE who is surely well-handicapped on the back of a brief spell with Aytach Sadik. He showed signs of a return to form when runner-up on similarly testing conditions at Fairyhouse (2m7f) three weeks ago. Furthermore, he has the assistance of the excellent Fergus Gregory in the saddle.