Louis Roederer Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 6m 21.9s

Pym³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 137| D

9/1

Smart hurdler/chaser for Nicky Henderson. Changed hands for £62,000 and not disgraced when second in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f, good) 36 days ago. Needs to build on that now for new yard.

Form: 150P-P2

Native Fighter⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 123| C

18/5

Form: 137-133

Eyeofthescorpion³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 123

9/4

Resumed winning ways after 8 months off in 8-runner handicap hurdle at Bangor (19.6f, good to soft) 31 days ago. Hit with 5 lb rise but still low mileage and not taken lightly up in trip.

Form: 0/5122-1

Justatenner^h¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 123| CD

13/2

C&D winner who continues in good heart, not seen to best effect when fifth of 7 in handicap at Bangor (23f, good) 14 days ago. Ought to be competitive again off an easing mark.

Form: 64-5845

Ballyellis^h,t⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120

4/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler who posted good second of 4 on chase bow at Sedgefield (26.9f, good to firm) 4 days ago. Much respected back in this sphere.

Form: 462642

Jelski^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: James Moffatt| OR: 110| C

8/1

Ended a losing sequence stretching back to 2019 off a much reduced mark in 10-runner handicap hurdle here (22.1f, good) 42 days ago. Has to overcome 9 lb higher mark here but can't be discounted.

Form: P-654P1

Aptly Put^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 109| C

14/1

Course winner in June and not disgraced both runs since, fourth of 5 in handicap over C&D 42 days ago when needing stronger gallop. No forlorn hope despite being 2 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 1-F4134

Forecasts

Eyeofthescorpion (9/4), Native Fighter (18/5), Ballyellis (4/1), Justatenner (13/2), Jelski (8/1), Pym (9/1), Aptly Put (14/1)

A case can be made for all of these but the most persuasive one is for NATIVE FIGHTER who shaped as though this step up in trip would really suit when third here last month and can emerge on top of his yard's three runners. Justatenner has been given some respite by the official assessor so this C&D winner rates the chief threat, with Bangor-scorer Eyeofthescorpion also well in the mix.