Daily Price Boosts At BetUK.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 5m 52.35s

Minella Trump³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130

10/1

Controversially disqualified after 'winning' a three-runner novices' hurdle at Bangor (2m7f, soft) five weeks ago; thrashed Ladronne (has shown improvement since) in their previous clash (Sedgefield); there or thereabouts?

Form: 1-112D

Polish²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128

15/2

Readily landed the odds in a Ludlow maiden (2m5½f, good to soft) on his penultimate start before finishing a respectable fourth to the Nicky Henderson-trained Downtown Getaway in a Class 3 handicap at Kempton a few weeks later.

Form: 214

Mr Scrumpy⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 124

12/1

Likeable and consistent type; failed to make the frame for the first time in an eight-race career when falling late on at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) in January; off since (for 63 days); could just find a few of the others stronger.

Form: 332-12F

Baron De Midleton¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 124

6/1

Made a winning return from wind surgery when accounting for the Alan King-trained Perfect Predator at Doncaster (2m½f, soft) in December; made all when turning over a long odds-on favourite (no fluke) at Sedgefield (2m4f, heavy) latest.

Form: 61/4141

Rath An Iuir²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 123| BF| CD

9/2

Progressive hurdler; created a positive impression when scoring over C&D (soft) on his penultimate start; was set plenty to do by his rider when a closing second to Shah An Shah at Doncaster (3m, soft) last month; of interest.

Form: 331/412

Sirwilliamwallace⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122

15/2

No match for the impressive winner Marown at Ayr (2m4½f, soft) early in the New Year; justified strong market support when making all in a 2m5f Kelso maiden (soft) subsequently; probably has more too offer.

Form: 2-521

Ladronne⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: T Collier| OR: 105| CD

6/4

Made the headlines under ultra-confident handling here on his penultimate start; doubled-up in a hack canter under Becky Smith at Sedgefield (2m4f+) last week; ahead of the handicapper under a 7lb penalty?

Form: 442411

Forecasts

Ladronne (6/4), Rath An Iuir (9/2), Baron De Midleton (6/1), Polish (15/2), Sirwilliamwallace (15/2), Minella Trump (10/1), Mr Scrumpy (12/1)

A good quality novices' handicap hurdle featuring an array of fast-improving horses, including Ladronne who stole all of the headlines when scoring under the ultra-confident handling of Joe Whitaker over C&D in January. However, it is another previous C&D winner who makes most appeal in the shape of Rose Dobbin's RATH AN LUIR. He appeared to be a shade unfortunate not to follow up that success when seemingly set plenty to do by today's rider Conor O'Farrell at Doncaster (3m).