Play Roulette At BetUK.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 11.80s

Siannes Star²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 129| D

10/1

Made a good fist of things until weakening inside the final furlong (third) on his recent return to action in a jumpers' bumper; had beaten Swaffham Bulbeck by 1¾L in a Market Rasen novices' hurdle (2m+, good) previously.

Form: 5461-13

Thor De Cerisy¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 127| CD

5/2

Made all when a ready 8L winner (11-8f) of a C&D maiden (heavy) on Fighting Fifth Day; posted another solid effort in defeat at Wetherby (2m novices', heavy) just under a fortnight ago.

Form: 0-27162

Oscars Leader^v²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 122

13/8

Has improved beyond all recognition since joining Jennie Candlish; seeks a hat-trick following front-running wins at Bangor (2m½f, soft) and Sedgefield (2m1f, heavy); raised another 8lb for his latest success; plenty more needed.

Form: 4-53511

Altruism⁷⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 122

15/2

Cartmel specialist (all five career wins have come at his home track); didn't show a great deal to work with for the future when returning from a six-month absence at Haydock (2m3f, soft) in December; now rated 3lb lower.

Form: 1/72-406

Keyboard Gangster^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Whillans| T: D W Whillans| OR: 121| D

14/1

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 (five starts) and competes from a 9lb lower mark as a result; likely to face competition for the lead.

Form: 1/764-66

Scorched Earth²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

18/1

Bypassed an option at the Cheltenham Festival in favour of this race; competitive on all three starts over hurdles (debut Catterick winner); should have a positive role to play from a fair mark (127) on handicap bow.

Form: 143

Roar²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: E De Giles| OR: 109

6/1

Low-mileage over hurdles (0-3) and has undergone wind surgery since finishing in the ruck in a Taunton maiden (2m+, soft) in January; led on the post when plundering a jumpers' bumper (16-1) at Wolverhampton three weeks ago; handicap debut.

Form: 9461

Forecasts

Oscars Leader (13/8), Thor De Cerisy (5/2), Roar (6/1), Altruism (15/2), Siannes Star (10/1), Keyboard Gangster (14/1), Scorched Earth (18/1)

A competitive affair in which the early pace should be strong and true with the hat-trick seeking Oscars Leader, Thor De Cerisy, Keyboard Gangster and Siannes Star all known for front-running tactics. Roar returned from wind surgery to win a jumpers' bumper at Wolverhampton recently and is untested in handicap company just like the tentative selection SCORCHED EARTH. Dan Skelton's charge has shown improvement with each and every one of his three starts over timber.