14:45 Wetherby

Saturday 31 October 2020

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

bet365 Hurdle (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 19.28s

Lisnagar Oscar²³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 160| D

9/2

Had a slow start to last season but ended it with a much-improved display to land the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham 7 months ago. Stable going well, so warrants plenty of respect on return.

Form: 239F31-

Chapmanshype^t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 146

11/1

Generally progressive hurdler who enhanced an excellent record at Fontwell in August, then showed a cracking attitude to follow up at Kelso. Has a fitness edge, but likely to be outclassed.

Form: 111-911

Copperhead²³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 148| D

12/1

Winning hurdler but proving much better over fences, completing hat-trick in Grade 2 at Ascot in February. Fell in RSA when last seen and might need this first run back.

Form: 1/5111F-

Kildisart²³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: B Pauling| OR: 149

9/1

Smart chaser who bounced back to form when second in the Ultima handicap at Cheltenham on his final outing. Probably using this return to hurdling as a pipe-opener, though.

Form: 1/36652-

Next Destination⁹²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| D

6/1

Smart novice hurdler for Willie Mullins in 2017/18, winning 3 of 4 starts and a good third in the Ballymore at Cheltenham. Hard to know how much ability he retains having not been seen since, though.

Form: 211131/

The Dutchman⁹³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson| T: T Davidson| OR: 137| C

80/1

Useful novice chaser who ploughed through the mud to win the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January 2018. Failed to complete next 2 starts for Colin Tizzard and returns from an almost 2-year absence here.

Form: 7261PU/

Wholestone³⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 151| D

11/2

Smart, likeable hurdler who made a positive start to his chasing career last season and can't be completely ruled out for all he has an 11-month absence to overcome back in this discipline.

Form: 950/121-

Roksana²³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 151

13/8

Smart and likeable mare who put up another good effort when fourth in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham 7 months ago. Looks a big player if she's sharp enough for reappearance.

Form: 12/2524-

Non-Runners

Decor Irlandais⁷⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: N C Kelly J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Roksana (13/8), Lisnagar Oscar (9/2), Wholestone (11/2), Next Destination (6/1), Kildisart (9/1), Decor Irlandais (10/1), Chapmanshype (11/1), Copperhead (12/1), The Dutchman (80/1)

ROKSANA has a good record fresh, should relish the return to this trip, and gets weight all round, so she makes plenty of appeal in an open-looking Grade 2. Stayers' Hurdle winner Lisnagar Oscar is an obvious danger and Decor Irlandais can't be ruled out given he's still on the up.