Star Sports Bet Owners Club Guarantee Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 31.27s

Petit Tonnerre¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| D

4/5

Winner of both starts over hurdles (juvenile events) in France last year. Handicapper taken no chances, but 4-y-o allowance helps and seemingly well regarded by new yard (holds Triumph Hurdle entry).

Form: 11

Serious Ego³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 112

12/1

More miss than hit since landing a Haydock handicap off 2 lb lower last January. Reproduction of that would give him strong claims, but latest effort was tame and he's the most exposed of these.

Form: 1U8-265

Presuming Ed^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 108| CD

5/4

Made it 2-2 over this C&D when landing a selling handicap on Boxing Day. Put in another solid shift from the front when runner-up at Leicester last time and no reason to think he won't go well again.

Form: 551212

Forecasts

Petit Tonnerre (4/5), Presuming Ed (5/4), Serious Ego (12/1)

This should be a straightforward assignment for French import PETIT TONNERRE, who looked good when winning juvenile events at Dieppe and Compiegne last year. He is completely unexposed and an entry in the Triumph Hurdle suggests that he is held in high regard by his new connections. With Serious Ego failing to fire the last twice, Presuming Ed gets the nod for forecast purposes.