British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 7.23s

West To The Bridge^p1,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

4/1

Took advantage of a much-reduced mark to score at Chepstow (19.4f) in February and went on to complete a 4-timer with success at Newton Abbot (26.5f) last month. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Major player.

Form: 541111

Teescomponents Lad^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 133

7/1

Rewarded for consistency when scoring at Market Rasen (23.1f) in November. Had generally been holding his form well since prior to a rare below-par effort at Kelso last time. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 136324

No Risk Des Flos⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 130| D

16/5

On the up and made it 4 from 8 over hurdles when scoring at Wetherby (again by narrow margin) in February. May not have reached his limit so he's clearly of interest once more after a small rise.

Form: 215-711

Coolbane Boy⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 126

10/1

Much improved when winning handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (23.8f) on New Year's Day. However, possibly amiss when pulled up in Grade 2 River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster later that month.

Form: 867-71P

Big Bad Bear⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 118| C| D

11/4

Had largely been operating below best over hurdles this season but, having dropped in the weights, he got back to winning ways at Newcastle (20.3f) last month. Remains well treated on old form.

Form: 035481

Diamond State²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| D

5/1

Won 2 handicaps at Musselburgh to start off his campaign and found only one too good back there on his next 2 starts. Respectable third at the same course followed by a fall at Kelso last time.

Form: 11223F

Forecasts

Big Bad Bear (11/4), No Risk Des Flos (16/5), West To The Bridge (4/1), Diamond State (5/1), Teescomponents Lad (7/1), Coolbane Boy (10/1)

NO RISK DES FLOS has developed a fine strike rate over hurdles and can complete his hat-trick. The 7-y-o didn't win by far at Wetherby on his last 2 starts, hasn't gone up much in the weights as a result and could prove to still be ahead of the handicapper. West To The Bridge is feared most as he bids to make it a 5-timer, while Big Bad Bear remains well handicapped on his old form.