Break From The Field With Vertem Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 46y | 7 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: C & D Eustace| OR: 140| D

Successful in three of his four starts over hurdles in Australia (Ballarat, Casterton and Warrnambol); has his sights lowered to a more realistic level after struggling in the Gr 1 Christmas Hurdle (Kempton) and the Gr 3 Limestone Lad (Naas).

Form: 112-1P6

Minella Charmer⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: James Moffatt| OR: 135| CD

Seeks the hat-trick following successive wins here and at Haydock (split over a period of nine months); gamely out-battled the odds-on favourite Fin & Game in the Lancashire mud (1m7½f) prior to Christmas; Brian Hughes replaces an 8lb claimer.

Form: F/FP31-1

Secrete Stream²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 134| D

Boasts a solid strike-rate over hurdles (5-14) and strongest when the mud is flying; 4lb higher than when all out to repel Weather Front by a short-head at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) three weeks ago; definite chance.

Form: 53/16-61

Antunes²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| BF| D

Won well at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in October, admittedly was flattered by the winning margin (Project Bluebook ran out); not as sharp since and has plenty of work to do with Secrete Stream on recent form.

Form: 532-1P7

McGowan's Pass²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 125| D

Useful earlier in his career (bumpers/novice hurdles); landed some good bets on his return to the track at Ayr (2m, heavy) early in the New Year; lost precious little in defeat to The Con Man at Kelso (2m5f, soft) subsequently; leading player.

Form: 4/U48-12

Thor De Cerisy⁶⁸

Made all when a ready 8L winner (11-8f) of a C&D maiden hurdle (heavy) on Fighting Fifth Day; ran far better than the bare finishing positions imply on handicap debut at Ffos Las (2m); first start since wind surgery.

Form: 80-2716

Keyboard Gangster^t¹¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 124| D

Sprung a 28-1 surprise in a Cl 2 handicap hurdle at Kelso (2m, heavy) in the spring of 2018; has failed to progress since (just four starts) and competes from a 6lb lower mark as a result; tends to race keenly.

Form: 31/764-6

Forecasts

Minella Charmer (11/4), Secrete Stream (7/2), McGowan's Pass (4/1), Big Blue (5/1), Antunes (7/1), Thor De Cerisy (8/1), Keyboard Gangster (16/1)

The Australian hurdler Big Blue has his sights lowered (handicap debut) yet is still burdened by top-weight and an official rating of 140. Minella Charmer seeks a hat-trick but has also risen steadily in the weights (Brian Hughes takes over in the saddle from the 8lb claimer Charlotte Jones), while the Wetherby winner Secrete Stream (adores testing conditions) and the returning C&D maiden winner Thor De Cerisy (wind surgery) are both respected. However, a clear preference is for Sandy Thomson's MCGOWAN'S PASS. Strong in the market when successful at Ayr, he simply failed to stay (2m5f) when losing little in defeat to the promising The Con Man at Kelso subsequently.