Angel Trust Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 4m 18.7s

Masters Apprentice²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-7| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 122| CD

6/4

Made a seamless transition to the handicap ranks when scoring by seven-length over course and distance in December in heavy ground; unable to follow that up next time over slightly shorter in similar conditions; needs to bounce back.

Form: 1214

Mister Manduro²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 110

18/1

Successful on his first completed start over hurdles this formerly useful Flat stayer has done the rounds in terms of training yards of late. Found life tougher under revised mark last twice; capable but could be similar story again.

Form: U178

Xpo Universel^p,t¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 109| D

8/1

Last three runs over hurdles have been generally consistent but is very exposed now at the age of 11 and has never won off such a high mark in the past and difficult to see where improvement will come from.

Form: 40-7452

Crackdeloust^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 109| CD

6/1

Rated 6lb lower than whewinning by 2¼L at Catterick (2m3½f, soft) in January 2018; slowly improving since returning from long absence with best run coming on latest start at Newcastle; more needed but going the right way at present.

Form: 158/P02

Zamani⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 119

10/3

Dual Flat winner who added a hurdles success to his CV when winning a juvenile contest at Fontwell (2m1½f, soft) last month. Initial mark looks stiff judged purely on racecourse achievements, but open to improvement and not ruled out.

Form: 31

Cedar Hill^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: I Jardine| OR: 107

6/1

Took a big stride forward to land a Punchestown handicap late last month after a string of below par efforts; certainly looks on the upgrade but handicapper has taken no chances raising him a whopping 18lbs for that success.

Form: 08501

Lucou³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 103

40/1

Has some fair form on the Flat and over timber in France but has failed to translate that with three average performances to date including latest at Wetherby in December; too soon to write off but others seem more capable.

Form: 2-42668

Forecasts

Masters Apprentice (6/4), Zamani (10/3), Crackdeloust (6/1), Cedar Hill (6/1), Xpo Universel (8/1), Mister Manduro (18/1), Lucou (40/1)

Given a lack of stand out competitors ZAMANI is taken to follow up his recent success at Fontwell under similar expected conditions for train Brendan Powell. The four-year-old will need to brush up his jumping but if able to do so he could have the beating of his rivals. Crackdeloust is well weighted on previous form and has been slowly improving since returning from a long break. His recent runner-up run at Wetherby was decent and should go well if building on that. The handicapper has taken no chances with recent winner Cedar Hill but Iain Jardine's new recruit is respected nevertheless.