Racing Post GoNorth Finals Weekend 20-22 March Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 4m 5.54s

Christopher Wood⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| DWS

10/11

Grade 1-placed last season but has struggled in three starts since including when 38L ninth in Listed handicap hurdle over an extended 2m at Newbury (good-to-soft) in November. Had wind surgery since his latest outing.

Form: 113-049

Dear Sire¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| CD

9/2

Still held chances when falling two out in a handicap chase over 2m on good-to-soft ground here at the start of this month. previously 22L fourth in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby (2m, soft) in December and has won over C&D in the past.

Form: 31F-64F

Goldencard^v1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 123| CD

9/1

Below par seventh back over hurdles in a C&D contest just over a month ago. In good form prior to that however and is a leading contender in a first time visor racing off a mark 9lb higher than when winning over this C&D in November.

Form: 611227

Skiddaw Valleys²⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 121

10/1

Broke his maiden over hurdles when winning by 14L in a good ground 2m4f maiden contest at Perth in May last year. Absent since and is worth a check in the market dropping in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 3222-1

Lucky Flight¹³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 118| D

9/2

Unbeaten in two starts over hurdles most recently when scoring by 1¾L in a 2m novice event at Kelso (soft) in October last year. Given a break since and is a leading contender on first start in handicap company.

Form: 1-011

For Three^h³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 115| D

8/1

Returning from a break when finishing a well beaten 26L ninth in an AW handicap over an extended 1m4f at Newcastle last month. Better expected on his return to hurdles.

Form: 253-116

Forecasts

Christopher Wood (10/11), Lucky Flight (9/2), Dear Sire (9/2), For Three (8/1), Goldencard (9/1), Skiddaw Valleys (10/1)

LUCKY FLIGHT is unbeaten in two starts over obstacles and he can maintain that unbeaten record by registering a handicap debut success in this small field event. Christopher Wood is dropping markedly in class here and he can finish runner-up on his first outing since wind surgery while third place can go to Skiddaw Valleys who is switched to handicaps on his first start since last May.