quinnbet.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 1.17s

Pay The Piper¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 137| D

6/5

Point winner who maintained his unbeaten record under Rules in tenacious fashion on handicap debut at Wetherby 12 days ago, overcoming several mistakes. Up 8 lb but limit may not have been reached.

Form: U31111

Mick Maestro⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 136| D

11/4

Much improved this term for new yard, readily winning over 2m at Doncaster and Catterick. Shaped as though still in top form when third at Market Rasen and last week's Sandown run easy to excuse.

Form: 31F13P

Big Bad Bear⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 133| D

11/2

Failed to take to chasing but showed improved form back over hurdles when winning 9-runner handicap at Doncaster (19.4f) in November. Made too many mistakes to be competitive in the Lanzarote.

Form: 1P-4P10

Theatre Legend⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 128| D

12/1

Runner-up in a trio of small-field contests over fences in 2020. Held in fifth when falling heavily returned to hurdling at Wetherby in November and beaten a long way at Doncaster soon after.

Form: 822-2F5

Gerolamo Cardano^p,t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: W T Kennedy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 119| D

16/1

Scored in good style on Hereford hurdle debut in January 2020 but failed to kick on, pulling up in Fred Winter at Cheltenham. No impact both starts this term, either. Tongue tie added.

Form: 136P-06

Ilaya^h,t⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 113| CD

17/2

Dual 2m winner last term. Returned with good fifth in 2m Wetherby handicap but well below par all three runs to end 2020. Is now back on last winning mark, though.

Form: 12-5566

Non-Runners

Serious Ego²⁹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: N G Richards J: R D Day

Forecasts

Pay The Piper (6/5), Mick Maestro (11/4), Serious Ego (4/1), Big Bad Bear (11/2), Ilaya (17/2), Theatre Legend (12/1), Gerolamo Cardano (16/1)

PAY THE PIPER improved again when making a successful handicap debut, despite a few mistakes, at Wetherby 12 days ago. A subsequent 8 lb rise is fair so the 4-timer may well be within reach. Mick Maestro has also had a good season and is feared most, though Ilaya is back on her last winning mark and is dangerous if she's been freshened up by a break.