Betway Heed Your Hunch Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 16.1s

Petrastar^t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-5| J: K Brogan| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 121| D

16/1

Completed a hat-trick in novice hurdles in 2020. Again too keen back from a year off at Exeter (handicap debut) and this should reveal more.

Form: 1/1177-6

Diamond State²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Conner McCann⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 114| CD

9/4

Has improved to win a pair of course handicaps this season, the latter over this trip. Thriving and merits plenty of respect on this hat-trick bid.

Form: 6324-11

Celtic Flames^p¹⁹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| CD

33/1

Scored at Perth and over C&D in autumn 2020 but not in the same form in a pair of comeback runs early last summer. Been off another 6 months. On a winning mark but has too much to prove.

Form: 1/511-07

Zafar^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111| D

11/2

Fine start for new yard this summer, winning maiden/novice events around this trip. Remained in form since without suggesting he has much in hand of his mark.

Form: 213233

Lanty Slea⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 107

3/1

Bumper winner in 2020. Fair form when second in 21f Kelso novice hurdle last May and close up when stumbling and unseating on home turn at Sedgefield last month. Opening handicap mark looks workable.

Form: 1/5-2FU

Blooriedotcom²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Willmott| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 106| C

18/1

In fine form when scoring twice over 2m here in early-2020 but he's made it to the track only twice since. Entitled to come on for Kelso comeback run last month but can only be watched for now.

Form: 3121/P-5

Smart Lass¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 89| C

5/2

Dual scorer on the level here in 2021. Best run since returning to hurdles when third of 8 over 2m here a fortnight ago.

Form: 487-573

Forecasts

Diamond State (9/4), Smart Lass (5/2), Lanty Slea (3/1), Zafar (11/2), Petrastar (16/1), Blooriedotcom (18/1), Celtic Flames (33/1)

An opening mark of 107 looks manageable for LANTY SLEA, particularly when Conor Rabbitt's 10 lb claim is taken into account, so he's preferred to the hat-trick seeking Diamond State. The reliable Zafar should also have a part to play.