National Hunt Racing Enthusiasts Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 5m 54.5s

Geordie Des Champs²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 129| D

6/1

Right back on track this summer, scoring twice over hurdles at Ffos Las. Off 4 months, looked a bit rusty returned to fences at Chepstow last month and made no impression over timber 15 days later.

Form: P6-1150

Taste The Fear³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 127| CD

5/2

Bumper winner who has progressed steadily over hurdles, recording a first handicap success at Market Rasen (23.1f) in July. Below form (lost 2 shoes) on reappearance last month so must bounce back.

Form: 3-21216

Bootlegger^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: T Davidson| OR: 126| D

6/5

Done well since joining this yard, winning over fences at Doncaster in March. Made decent return to action at Wetherby and ran creditably despite left poorly placed at Aintree last month. Big player.

Form: 212-U32

Canyon City^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 123| D

11/1

Five-time hurdles winner who made it second time lucky over fences at Worcester (23f) in September. However, failed to complete at Fakenham 37 days ago and, though talented, he is rather hit-and-miss.

Form: 4-6415U

Beach Break^b¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115

9/1

Is struggling for form at present but but probably failed for stamina at Musselburgh 18 days ago. Now 8 lb below his last winning mark and yard have been firing in winners recently.

Form: 442654

Dionysis^h⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr P Thomas⁽⁷⁾| T: M Weatherer| OR: 93

25/1

Creditable fourth at Market Rasen (16.6f, good) in October but not got near that form since, losing all chance at the start under this inexperienced rider here 8 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 354F09

Non-Runners

Debestyman²⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: Miss S Smith J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Bootlegger (6/5), Taste The Fear (5/2), Geordie Des Champs (6/1), Debestyman (8/1), Beach Break (9/1), Canyon City (11/1), Dionysis (25/1)

BOOTLEGGER was given far too much to do in a conditionals' event at Aintree 4 weeks ago, keeping on to snatch second but never a threat to the easy winner. With a fully-fledged rider back in the plate, he's fancied to go one better. Taste The Fear may have needed his reappearance (also lost a couple of shoes) so he's feared most, ahead of Suzy Smith's Debestyman.