Goose Island Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 5m 59.54s

Butler's Brief¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 118| CD

3/1

Won three handicaps on the bounce over 23f last spring, bringing up the hat-trick in this corresponding race. Wheels rather came off after but he stopped the slide following a wind op when third at Uttoxeter 10 days ago. Player again.

Form: 1PP56-3

Steinkraus^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116

7/2

Bagged a third win of last season in 4-runner handicap hurdle at Newcastle (22f) fitted with first-time cheekpieces in March. Beaten by more than revised mark at Haydock a month later but this is easier.

Form: 132710-

Point Of Principle^t,v⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 113

7/1

It's now sixteen runs since his last win in 2018 and he merely plugged on for fourth at Warwick over 21f in March. Stable in better form now, though.

Form: 4PP434-

Blakeney Point^t,v1¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112| C

11/2

Hasn't gone with that much zest of late but he tackles a new trip here in a change of headgear and is certainly weighted to strike if on a "going" day.

Form: 35736-5

The Vollan^p,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 109

5/1

Winner at Worcester last summer (final run for Charlie Longsdon). Best effort since when second over 3m at Southwell in April and effort there a week later excused as he was unsuited by drop in trip and lost a shoe.

Form: 445424-

Lelantos¹⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 103| D

4/1

Didn't need to improve to open his account at Southwell in November and followed up at Fakenham a month later, knocking the runner-up off his stride coming to the last. Off since but he's in top hands.

Form: 258211-

Forecasts

Butler's Brief (3/1), Steinkraus (7/2), Lelantos (4/1), The Vollan (5/1), Blakeney Point (11/2), Point Of Principle (7/1)

BUTLER'S BRIEF looked back in reasonable form following a wind op when third on return at Uttoxeter 10 days ago, and given he won this race from 2 lb higher a year ago, is certainly weighted to strike. Blakeney Point also lurks on a tempting mark tackling a new trip, while Lelantos ended 2021 on the up for his top yard.