Enjoy The Craic Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 4.02s

Hello Bob^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 99| D

9/2

Decent bumper winner (11L) on his debut/only run for James Bethell; yet to match that level of form over hurdles in maiden/novice events. Hood returns for her handicap debut (qualified for a mark quickly); better expected, may need a sounder surface.

Form: 1-50804

Vicky Cristina¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: J R Holt| OR: 87

33/1

Poor maiden on the Flat (0-22) at up to 1m who has shown very little over hurdles so far having started at a triple-figure price each time. Now gets a go in handicaps which may help but takes a leap of faith to support.

Form: 067

Oceanus¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 85

6/1

Modest sort on the Flat at up 1m3f he's yet to score over hurdles although he is easing down the handicap. Below form in his last three starts since showing some promise with a third at Cartmel last June; returns from a refreshing break.

Form: 5-63776

Flanagans Field^b¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Price| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 84| D

7/4

Confirmed the promise shown in his previous start to score for the second time this season although it didn't look likely for much of the contest. Only a selling handicap (this isn't much better) he did find for pressure; 6lb higher here.

Form: 207331

First Of Never⁴⁰

Age: 14| Weight: 10-4| J: Blair Campbell| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 77| CD

16/1

Winner of this last year from 6lb out of the weights (his first success under Rules); scored later in the season at Sedgefield. Now a 14yo he's made little impact this term although he vaguely hinted at a revival last time; needs to build on that run

Form: 21-6599

Kisumu^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁶⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 70

15/8

A maiden of long-standing (0-25 over hurdles); has to race from 3lb out of the handicap although he has posted some creditable efforts if late. This will be his fifth start in a row where he has to race from out of the weights; returns to 2m.

Form: 824455

Forecasts

Flanagans Field (7/4), Kisumu (15/8), Hello Bob (9/2), Oceanus (6/1), First Of Never (16/1), Vicky Cristina (33/1)

Not a race that makes any appeal as a betting medium but it looks to give Flanagans Field a good chance of following up his hard-fought Catterick win in a selling handicap where for 90% of the race he looked anything but the winner. However, a chance is taken with handicap debutante HELLO BOB who has yet to match her debut bumper win over hurdles but is less-exposed than many of these and despite a slight doubt about the ground offers some value. Last year’s winner First Of Never is now a year older and firmly in the veteran stage but another outing here may allow him to build on a glimmer of hope shown at Doncaster last time. The rested Oceanus is another to throw in the mix.