Celebrating Eve Muirhead's Curling Gold Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 4m 54.52s

Keepthefaithinme^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 118| CD

11/5

Arrives on the up having scored readily over C&D 10 days ago, forging clear with plenty to spare. Up 10 lb but still makes plenty of appeal in current mood.

Form: 080-031

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Newtown Boy²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Billy Garritty| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 114| D

6/1

4/1, creditable 10¾ lengths third of 6 to Malangen in handicap hurdle at this course 22 days ago, possibly still needing the run. Well treated on old form, so shouldn't be taken lightly.

Form: 60/54-63

Malangen¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 100| C| D

15/2

Temperamental sort who improved to score here in June but didn't really back it up (albeit unsuited by the way the race developed) 10 days ago. Not completely discounted.

Form: 6-77615

Gonfalonier²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 98| CD

5/4

Lightly raced for current yard and showed marked improvement when scoring readily over C&D 22 days ago. More to come, so could well follow up despite a hefty rise

Form: 0058-91

Lady Villanelle¹⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 97

18/1

Made a winning hurdling bow at Newcastle in November 2020. Lightly raced since and pulled up in handicap at Kelso when last seen 6 months ago. Others preferred.

Form: 413P/5P-

Non-Runners

Empty Quarter⁸⁹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 7

T: Ewan Whillans J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Gonfalonier (5/4), Keepthefaithinme (11/5), Newtown Boy (6/1), Malangen (15/2), Empty Quarter (12/1), Lady Villanelle (18/1)

GONFALONIER found marked improvement when bolting up over C&D and, with further progress on the cards, he's capable of following up. Keepthefaithinme fits a similar mould as an upwardly-mobile recent C&D winner, and he's the obvious danger. Newtown Boy is also of interest.