MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed App Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 6m 6.7s

Premier D'troice²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 121| D

2/1

Ex-Irish gelding who won at Punchestown in October then made winning British bow for current yard at Fakenham last month. Raised 5lb but should make a bold bid to complete seasonal hat-trick.

Form: U72311

Mercian Knight⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 120| CD

8/1

Promising second on hurdles bow at Southwell in November then duly obliged over C&D following month. Appeared undone by very soft ground last time on handicap bow at Chepstow and will appreciate sounder surface here. Sure to be thereabouts.

Form: 9-215

Ship Of The Fen^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 117| C

25/1

Three-time Flat winner at up to 1m6f and has hinted at ability in three outings in this sphere thus far. Making handicap bow for shrewd stable so improvement is quite likely.

Form: 846

Tango Boy^t⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| BF

9/2

Flemensfirth gelding who won Market Rasen bumper on debut last March and has been placed in both outings to date over timber at up to 2m3f. Taking big step up in trip for handicap bow but looks a player if his stamina holds out.

Form: 1-32

Champagne Noir⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 115WS

10/1

Solid second on hurdles bow at Carlisle in the autumn then poor last of six at Aintree following month. Better fourth of 15 at Catterick in December and steps up half a mile on handicap bow following three-month break when had wind surgery.

Form: 3-264

Teescomponentstrig⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 113| D

11/4

Built on three solid previous efforts when scoring last time over almost 3m in Newcastle h'cap hurdle off 4lb lower. Was going away at finish and has solid claims if in similar mood.

Form: 7-42231

I'd Better Go Now^t¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: D Skelton| OR: 108| BF

8/1

Beat 16 rivals on seasonal return in Wincanton 2m6f h'cap hurdle in October off 6lb lower mark. Favourite but weakened two out over this trip at Kempton last time and appears to need genuinely good ground to produce his running.

Form: 5/557-16

Forecasts

Premier D'troice (2/1), Teescomponentstrig (11/4), Tango Boy (9/2), I'd Better Go Now (8/1), Mercian Knight (8/1), Champagne Noir (10/1), Ship Of The Fen (25/1)

A tightly-knit handicap in which most of the runners have some sort of a chance. MERCIAN KNIGHT returns to the scene of his victory in December and another good show is anticipated on handicap bow. He stays and will appreciate underfoot conditions. Teescompnentstrig looks a danger and stayed on well to score at Newcastle last time, while hat-trick seeking Premier D'troice and Wincanton winner I'd Better Go Now also have claims. It will be interesting to see if the wind op helps the cause of Champagne Noir who has shown some ability.