Baker McVeigh & Abbott Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 43.2s

Minella Plus^h⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126| CD

6/4

Completed hat-trick with another commanding performance from the front switched to handicap company at Musselburgh last month. Won over C&D prior to that and has plenty to recommend him.

Form: 322111

Mick Maestro²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 123| C

3/1

Dual 2m hurdle winner but he came in well held after 6 months off in Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on his reappearance. Also didn't much of a race at Musselburgh and now back up in trip.

Form: P59-406

Big Bad Bear²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 122| D

4/1

Shaped as if needing run after 5 months off when third at Musselburgh in December, going well for a long way. Unable to build on that at Doncaster 3 weeks later and now down in trip minus headgear.

Form: 4F-2035

Golfe Clair¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 120

28/1

Doubled his tally over hurdles when landing 2½m Sedgefield novice on debut for this yard in August, well on top finish. Disappointing at Worcester a month later and off since. Handicap debut.

Form: 59-1U15

Sheriff Garrett^b,t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 115| CD

17/2

Down in the weights and bounced back to form when second of 5 to Enfin Phil at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. That wasn't a particularly deep race.

Form: 233602

Enfin Phil^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 114| CD

13/2

Scored at Uttoxeter in May and confirmed promise of his Musselburgh run when landing 5-runner handicap at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. Should be a factor again up 3 lb.

Form: 7-31P41

Forecasts

Minella Plus (6/4), Mick Maestro (3/1), Big Bad Bear (4/1), Enfin Phil (13/2), Sheriff Garrett (17/2), Golfe Clair (28/1)

MINELLA PLUS is an uncomplicated ride and on the up so it's easy enough to envisage him making all and extending his winning sequence to 4. Enfin Phil won a pretty weak race on Boxing Day but still commands respect up 3 lb, while Mick Maestro is back on his last winning mark, gained at this track.