Walters Group Intermediate Hurdle

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 3m 43.05s

Ballinsker³¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| D

7/4

£90,000 buy after winning sole point and looked useful when making winning Rules bow at Ludlow last October. Far from disgraced in a Haydock listed event next time, and remains with potential.

Form: 1/14-

Milkwood³⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| D

15/8

Fairly useful bumper winner who progressed well in 3 runs over hurdles last season, excellent second of 15 on handicap debut at Wincanton final outing. May do better still.

Form: 521/132-

Stimulating Song²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M F Harris| OR: 129| D

9/4

Fair in bumpers and got off the mark over hurdles in smooth style at Wetherby (2m) in January. Seemed unsuited by going right handed in EBF final at Kempton and should be competitive on return.

Form: 546120-

Bardd^p²²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 105| D

40/1

Bumper/Flat winner for Nicky Henderson but expensive to follow over hurdles for that yard. Run best overlooked when pulled up at Huntingdon final start but isn't at all likeable.

Form: 2/5062P-

Ocean's Dream⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams

150/1

Looks a longer-term project on early evidence.

Form: 67

Barden Bella²⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams

16/1

€15,000 3-y-o, £20,000 4-y-o, Mahler filly. Dam (h94), maiden hurdler (stayed 21f), half-sister to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 2½m) Aqua Dude. Runner-up sole start in Irish points (Mar 8).

Form: 2-

Non-Runners

Al Kout¹⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: H Main J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Ballinsker (7/4), Milkwood (15/8), Stimulating Song (9/4), Al Kout (12/1), Barden Bella (16/1), Bardd (40/1), Ocean's Dream (150/1)

An interesting race with BALLINSKER receiving the vote. Evan Williams' 5-y-o was seen out only twice last season but he showed plenty of ability on both starts and can reward his connections' patience by making a successful return. Milkwood is preferred to Stimulating Song for forecast purposes.