William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 5m 23.7s

Lake View Lad³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: N W Alexander| OR: 149| D

5/1

Top-class handicap chaser (2018 Rehearsal/Rowland Meyrick winner); faced a stiff task off top-weight when bidding to defend his Wetherby crown on Boxing Day (third); this spin over hurdles will keep him ticking over for Cheltenham & Aintree.

Form: 113P-53

River Frost¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 131| D

16/1

Beaten 14½L (third) by West To The Bridge on his return to the smaller obstacles at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) 16 days ago; runner-up off this mark (131) over fences at Newcastle previously; others more progressive.

Form: 441223

The Con Man²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 128| BF

11/10

Oscar gelding (cost £70,000); progressive in three starts over hurdles for Donald McCain - just run out of the main prize by the promising Flinck at Haydock (2m3f, soft) four weeks ago; certainly noteworthy at the very least.

Form: 11-22

Newtown Boy^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 128| C

15/2

Somewhat of a flag-bearer for Richard Gilbert and Jason Campbell in recent times; 3lb higher than when beating Informateur by ½L at Haydock (2m3f, soft) in December; has won here previously over fences.

Form: 4-U1514

Bialco^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 128| C

10/1

Brought his Kelso record to 2-2 when keeping on strongly to hold Ahead Of The Curve at a safe distance four weeks ago (2m6½f, soft); a subsequent 3lb rise is far from punitive; live contender despite the drop back in trip.

Form: 612741

McGowan's Pass²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 125

9/2

Useful earlier in his career (bumpers/novice hurdles); landed some good bets on his return to the track at Ayr (2m, heavy) three weeks ago - beating the patiently ridden Bulls Head by 14L; 9lb higher over a new trip (stamina in pedigree).

Form: 34/U48-1

Forecasts

The Con Man (11/10), McGowan's Pass (9/2), Lake View Lad (5/1), Newtown Boy (15/2), Bialco (10/1), River Frost (16/1)

A smashing contest featuring an array of progressive horses, in addition to the top-class handicap chaser Lake View Lad (has late-season targets at Cheltenham and Aintree). Bialco is 2-2 over hurdles at Kelso and must be considered as a major player despite dropping back in trip, while it's impossible to knock anything that the lightly-raced The Con Man has achieved under rules since joining Donald McCain for £70,000. However, as a half-brother to the 3m2f hunter chaser Digg Whitaker, the talented nine-year-old MCGOWAN'S PASS can silence any stamina doubters, swiftly doubling-up his smooth and taking success at Ayr (2m, heavy) three weeks ago.