Country Food Trust Claiming Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 4m 1.38s

Ballyellis^t⁴¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125| BF| D

7/2

Thrived in plating hurdling company in autumn 2019, racking up 4 wins. Big player if hitting the ground running after 13 months away.

Form: 211223-

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Mcgroarty^t¹⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 132| D

10/3

Smart chaser at his best. Badly out of sorts when pulled up twice over fences when last seen in the autumn but he's potentially a classy sort for a race like this.

Form: PP-33PP

The Raven's Return²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 115| D

9/2

Fairy useful hurdler, winning Newton Abbot handicap on reappearance in October. Hasn't really taken to chasing subsequently, but did shape better than distance beaten suggests back hurdling latest.

Form: 6-1U4P6

Chieftain's Choice^b¹⁵⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: K Frost| OR: 116| D

7/1

Veteran who boasts multiple victories over timber. Recorded a couple of creditable efforts in handicaps at start of season but below par here when last seen in October.

Form: 47-2647

Dream Du Grand Val^h²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Davies| T: A Irvine| OR: 125| D

20/1

Useful hurdler for Nicky Henderson in early-2019 but pulled up in Exeter chase on sole run last season and suffered a similar fate on recent yard debut over hurdles after a further 13 months off.

Form: 1180/P-P

Ferrobin^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: M Young| OR: 118| D

9/4

Fairly useful hurdler who landed 2m Market Rasen selling handicap in December. Runner-up in a jumpers bumper next time but remote fourth in selling hurdle/handicap chase since. Could bounce back.

Form: 521244

Lady Vera⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: F Brennan

200/1

Well held in 4 bumpers and a novice hurdle. Big outsider again.

Form: 97050

Forecasts

Ferrobin (9/4), Mcgroarty (10/3), Ballyellis (7/2), The Raven's Return (9/2), Chieftain's Choice (7/1), Dream Du Grand Val (20/1), Lady Vera (200/1)

BALLYELLIS is prolific at this sort of level and gets the nod to make a winning return after 13 months away. Mcgroarty would rate a huge threat if he still retains anything like the ability which saw him win handicap chases off marks in the mid-140s in summer 2019. Ferrobin hasn't been at his best on his last couple of starts but is another who is very capable in this grade.