Follow AtTheRaces On Twitter Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 30.62s

Mascat³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 120| C

5/4

Useful Flat performer and made it 2-4 in this sphere with a ready success in a seven-runner handicap here (16.8f, good) last month. Up 8 lb for that, but this stiffer test won't be an issue and he probably has more to offer as a hurdler.

Form: 138-1

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Get Back Get Back^p1,t¹¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: H Fry| OR: 120| BF

9/1

Bagged a couple of handicaps in 2020 and has subsequently hit the crossbar on several occasions. However, he's prone to mistakes and it was disappointing that he failed to deliver when odds on for a three-runner affair at Exeter in April. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 225223-

State Crown^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113| C

7/2

Looked better than ever when resuming winning ways over 16.8f here (good to soft) last time, asserting after the final flight. 3 lb rise no hardship and he is 3-3 round here, but this step up in trip is of dubious benefit.

Form: 4455-31

Bucko's Boy^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Page Fuller| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 108

9/4

Largely creditable efforts in defeat subsequent to opening his hurdles account in a Fakenham maiden last spring. Likely to have finished closer at Stratford (16.3f, good) recently but for suffering interference at a crucial stage, and he's a strong candidate here off 3 lb lower.

Form: 375-234

Galah^t¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 108

33/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for Ralph Beckett and off the mark over hurdles at Doncaster (16.6f, heavy) in December. Not disgraced in a Ludlow juvenile event when last seen in February, but improvement needed on handicap bow in this sphere.

Form: 33153-

Forecasts

Mascat (5/4), Bucko's Boy (9/4), State Crown (7/2), Get Back Get Back (9/1), Galah (33/1)

MASCAT did the job well here last time, form which was given a boost when the third recently scored at Stratford, and an 8 lb rise may not be enough to prevent him from following up. State Crown is unbeaten in three starts here, but going back up in trip may not be ideal, while Get Back Get Back has a bit to prove on the back of his odds-on failure at Exeter and Galah needs to raise her game. That leaves Bucko's Boy as the main danger, and a respected one at that off this reduced mark.