Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 43.7s

Thunderstruck²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 121| CD

5/4

C&D winner who posted good second of 7 in handicap hurdle (6/1) at Warwick (25f, good) 21 days ago. In the mix nudged up just 1 lb.

Form: 227P2-2

Shoal Bay^b,p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 118

25/1

Arrives well below par, pulled up in handicap chase at Southwell (25.8f, good) 21 days ago. Switches to hurdles with plenty to prove.

Form: UPPU3-P

Sammylou^t¹³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115| CD

17/2

C&D winner who raced too freely under an inexperienced claimer when ninth in 3m handicap at Doncaster in January. Has won off a break, so he's well worth considering off a handy-looking mark.

Form: 3/618P9-

From The Heart^b,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 111

18/1

Ungenuine type who was blinkered for 1st time when only fourth of 5 in handicap chase at Newton Abbot (25.8f) 14 days ago. Switches to hurdles but others remain more persuasive.

Form: 6B74-24

Good News^v¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 111| C| D

6/4

Comes here on the back of a career-best win when completing his hat-trick in 26f handicap hurdle (15/2) at Warwick 14 days ago. Up another 4 lb but he can't be taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: F4311-1

Wearapinkribbon³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 110

11/1

Fairly useful ex-Irish winning hurdler but he's yet to fire in two runs for his current yard, only fifth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot (26.5f) 35 days ago. Needs to step forward.

Form: 0/3007-5

Non-Runners

Ennistown¹⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 12

T: A Wintle J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Thunderstruck (5/4), Good News (6/4), Ennistown (7/1), Sammylou (17/2), Wearapinkribbon (11/1), From The Heart (18/1), Shoal Bay (25/1)

Fergal O'Brien's SAMMYLOU returns on a handy mark so is worth siding with at the forecast odds given he can boast a C&D victory and has also won off a break. Four-timer seeking Good News rates the obvious threat but does have a career-high mark to overcome, while Thunderstruck is another C&D winner who can have a say.