Coral 'Fail To Finish' Free Bets Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 6m 5.01s

Al Dancer²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-7| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 146

11/2

Form tailed off following a promising start over fences last season. Also well held in chase on return for new yard but back on track returned to hurdles when 6 lengths fourth in 3m Sandown handicap.

Form: 139P-04

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Geordie Des Champs³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 133| C| D

12/1

Right back to form this season, gaining a third handicap hurdle success when kept up to his work to score by 4 lengths at Uttoxeter (23f) last month. This more competitive, though.

Form: 6-11501

Kateson²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: A Ralph| OR: 133| C

9/2

Aintree winner in the mud for Tom Lacey last December and back to form at second time of asking for new stable when third of 13 at Aintree 23 days ago. Respected.

Form: 1305-83

Take Your Time^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| CD

6/4

Point/novice hurdle winner who has improved for the step up to 3m this term, winning handicaps at Ffos Las and here. Raised another 5 lb but could easily have more to come given who trains him.

Form: 23P2-11

Flashjack²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 128| D

6/1

Now 6 lb lower than when gaining his latest success at Haydock in December 2019. Creditable third of 11 on his C&D return 23 days ago and not discounted despite closing in on his 12th Birthday.

Form: 58953-3

Saint Dalina^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127

20/1

Signed off last season with career best to win Uttoxeter handicap (23f, soft) in March but she was well held on her Carlisle return 15 days ago. Needs to have come on a lot in short time.

Form: 12431-9

Bells Of Peterboro⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 120| CD

6/1

Much improved handicapper last season, signing off with C&D win in April. Creditable third of 8 on his Ffos Las reappearance last month. Yard won this race in 2019.

Form: 41221-3

Forecasts

Take Your Time (6/4), Kateson (9/2), Al Dancer (11/2), Bells Of Peterboro (6/1), Flashjack (6/1), Geordie Des Champs (12/1), Saint Dalina (20/1)

KATESON's latest Aintree third looks solid so he could prove the answer. The Paul Nicholls-trained Take Your Time dug deep to follow up his Ffos Las reappearance win over C&D last time and is likely to go well in his hat-trick bid, while Al Dancer should also have a say if he can reproduce the form he showed back hurdling last time.