Pertemps Network Opportunity Around The Corner Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:58 | Winning time: 6m 31.8s

Copperhead⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 146| D

8/1

Grade 2 novice chase winner last term but well beaten when falling heavily in RSA on final start. Pulled up on both starts this season and has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 111F-PP

Spiritofthegames¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| C| D

5/1

Regular in competitive handicaps and returned at the top of his game when second at Cheltenham. Probably best to forgive a rare poor effort at Warwick 10 days ago so not dismissed back over timber.

Form: 226-248

Perfect Man^p,t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 133| CD

17/2

Gained third win from previous 5 hurdle starts in Leicester seller in December. Shaped better than distance beaten suggested on second start for this yard at Exeter 11 days ago. Tongue tie back on.

Form: 16-4157

Blackjack Kentucky^p1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| CD

7/2

Useful 3m winner over hurdles who made encouraging start over fences after wind op in a novice chase here in October. Not so good 3 weeks ago so quickly switches back over hurdles with cheekpieces on.

Form: 2212-4P

Poker Play³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

2/1

Landed Ffos Las novice chase in the mud last term. Struggled in competitive chases after but turned in his best effort of the season from falling mark when runner-up at Plumpton last month. Respected.

Form: 500-842

Diger Daudaie^b³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 123| D

5/1

Scored from 2 lb higher mark at Uttoxeter back in March 2019. Disappointing over fences since, though, and produced another laboured effort back over timber at Haydock 33 days ago. More needed.

Form: 1/644-P4

Forecasts

Poker Play (2/1), Blackjack Kentucky (7/2), Spiritofthegames (5/1), Diger Daudaie (5/1), Copperhead (8/1), Perfect Man (17/2)

This can go to POKER PLAY, who turned in his best effort of the season when runner-up at Plumpton last time and has leading claims of going one place better if able to get his way at the front. Things haven't exactly gone to plan for Blackjack Kentucky over fences so he gets the nod to chase the selection home back over timber, ahead of Dan Skelton's Spiritofthegames.