bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 5.4s

Dear Sire^h²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 136| C| D

4/1

Looked back to something like his best when capitalising on his much-reduced mark at Bangor (19.5f) in July. Confirmed his revival when third at Uttoxeter (15.7f) since and fancied to go well again.

Form: 64F4-13

Speredek²³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 134WS

20/1

Smart front-running chaser at his best who ran poorly under a change of tactics over timber at Taunton (19f, soft) back in January. Undergone wind surgery ahead of return and assessor has relented.

Form: F6/67P8-

Bootlegger^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 129

7/1

Ex-Irish hurdler who improved markedly when scoring in good style at Doncaster (19.4f) in January. Good third at Kempton in March and likely he'll strip fitter for his Newton Abbot return 25 days ago.

Form: 59613-9

Imperial Elysian^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128| D

7/4

Landed back-to-back handicaps at up to 21f earlier in the year and completed hat-trick with another career-best display at Southwell (20.4f) last month, winning readily. That may not be his limit.

Form: 4/6F11-1

Newtown Boy^t²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 128

16/1

Good start for new yard when winning over fences/hurdles on first 2 starts during second half of 2019. Final effort at Kelso in January best excused and he returns with stable in good form.

Form: U15146-

Tree Of Liberty^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 122

4/1

Won pair of 2m novice handicap chases for Kerry Lee in 2018. Limited impact upon joining new yard in 2019/20 season but bit more like it on back of wind op at Fontwell recently. This will reveal more.

Form: 0U/068-4

Native Fighter³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 118

13/2

Form: 52121-3

Forecasts

Imperial Elysian (7/4), Dear Sire (4/1), Tree Of Liberty (4/1), Native Fighter (13/2), Bootlegger (7/1), Newtown Boy (16/1), Speredek (20/1)

NATIVE FIGHTER ended 2019 on the up over hurdles and, fit from the Flat, produced a creditable display back over timber when third at Cartmel in July, that said a well-run race over 2¾m possibly stretching his stamina. The ease in trip is a plus on that evidence and he could represent a spot of value. Imperial Elysian scored readily at Southwell and is feared, ahead of Dear Sire.