Happy Birthday Wayne Hockley Congratulations Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 6m 43.16s

Tobefair^p²³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 147| D

13/2

Good record at Cheltenham and far from disgraced when fourth in a 3m handicap there last November. Makes return after 7 months off and may prove a shade too high in the weights. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 46/0425-

Celestial Force^p,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124| C

5/4

Fairly useful stayer on Flat who landed third hurdle in small-field 2m handicap here in June. Back on track here sporting a first-time tongue-tie 16 days ago and he rates a player upped in trip.

Form: 25-0143

Ballyegan Hero⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 118| CD

7/2

Doubled chase tally with loads to spare at this track in June and exceeded expectations upped further in grade when runner-up at Uttoxeter last time. First hurdles start for yard so no forlorn hope.

Form: 316162

Easyrun De Vassy^p,t⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 111| D

11/4

Made a winning start over fences at Fontwell last August but nowhere near that level in 2 comeback outings here this summer. Bit better back over timber at this C&D last time but others preferred.

Form: 217-3P2

Non-Runners

Drumlee Watar²¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 8

T: W Greatrex J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Celestial Force (5/4), Drumlee Watar (15/8), Easyrun De Vassy (11/4), Ballyegan Hero (7/2), Tobefair (13/2)

Impossible to rule any of the quintet out but preference is for DRUMLEE WATAR, who completed a handicap/novice hat-trick over staying trips this summer, and having given another good account of himself when a close third at Bangor 3 weeks ago, he's taken to score again back up in distance. Celestial Force just shades the vote for the forecast spot, ahead of Debra Hamer's stable-star Tobefair.