Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 9.10s

Albert's Back⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 127| CD

7/2

3-time C&D winner but only fourth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Kelso (16.2f, soft) 50 days ago. More is required.

Form: 11F-6P4

Jante Law³¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 124| D

17/2

Lightly-raced sort who posted career best when winning 12-runner novice hurdle at Hexham (16.2f). Off 10 months, so he needs to hit the ground running on his handicap debut.

Form: 6391-1

Chti Balko²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 123| D

7/2

Largely in good form this term, second of 10 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f) 23 days ago. Holds leading claims at these weights now shown respite from the handicapper.

Form: 6-32392

Playful Saint^t1¹⁰⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

4/1

Fairly useful winning ex-French juvenile but off the track for over 3 years. With top yard though, so no surprise if he plays a leading role on his handicap debut in a tongue tie.

Form: 12/

Fontana Ellissi^h¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 117| BF| D

11/4

Opened his account for new connections at Ffos Las (15.8f) before good second at Taunton 13 days ago, finishing well. In the mix once more.

Form: 205512

McGowan's Pass^p1¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 116| D

11/1

Winless since early 2020, and below-par third of 5 in handicap hurdle at Kelso (16.2f) 17 days ago. Cheekpieces reached for with a bit to find.

Form: 227-733

Non-Runners

Minella Charmer¹¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 11

T: James Moffatt J: Charlotte Jones

Forecasts

Fontana Ellissi (11/4), Albert's Back (7/2), Chti Balko (7/2), Playful Saint (4/1), Minella Charmer (8/1), Jante Law (17/2), McGowan's Pass (11/1)

A few with chances, but CHTI BALKO has been given a real chance by the official assessor here and is taken to bag his first success of the season. Fontana Ellissi arrives at the top of his game and is feared most, although Playful Saint is not without interest on his first run for the Skelton's despite having a long absence to overcome.