Royal Yeomanry Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 21.60s

Tango Echo Charlie^h³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 111

4/1

Placed first 3 starts over hurdles in novice company during the summer, but failed to improve when hooded (retained here) on handicap debut at Carlisle last month.

Form: 03-2236

Avoid De Master³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108| BF

11/8

Point winner who stepped up on previous Rules efforts when third starting out for this yard on return/handicap bow at Exeter (18.5f, good) last month. Big player here with this stiffer test a plus.

Form: 5/3677-3

Saint Dalina²⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 108| D

10/1

Signed off last season with an improved display at Ffos Las, landing a heavy-ground 2½m handicap in determined fashion. Resumes on a 7 lb higher mark and another personal best will be needed.

Form: 986261-

Quick Pick²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Candlish| OR: 108| D

5/1

Won 2 novice hurdles at Sedgefield in 2017/18. Failed to land a blow when returning from a lengthy absence at Bangor last month and this run should reveal more.

Form: 0P432/6

Shantung^b1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Maxime Tissier| T: L Wadham| OR: 107

10/3

Without a win since 2018 but, having undergone a wind op, she returned from an 8-month break with a decent effort at Lingfield (19.5f, good to soft). 2 lb lower now and sports first-time blinkers

Form: 45955-4

Dark Storm^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁵⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 98

50/1

Modest in bumpers and hasn't fared much better in 3 runs over hurdles. Cheekpieces enlisted for this handicap debut and big step forward needed.

Form: 60-6755

Forecasts

Avoid De Master (11/8), Shantung (10/3), Tango Echo Charlie (4/1), Quick Pick (5/1), Saint Dalina (10/1), Dark Storm (50/1)

This looks ripe for AVOID DE MASTER, who was unlucky not to finish closer when third on his first run in a handicap for new connections at Exeter, and there should be more to come from this 6-y-o now faced with a stiffer test. Tango Echo Charlie and Saint Dalina both need to improve in order to defy their current marks, but Shantung looks feasibly treated and she is second choice.