Heineken Zero Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 3m 44.40s

Arvico Bleu⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 124| D

22/1

Unreliable type. 28/1, not disgraced when fifth of 6 in handicap chase at Cartmel (17.3f) 58 days ago. Needs to build on it back over hurdles.

Form: 17145-5

Britzka^p,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 127| D

6/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler at his best but below form of late, eighth on Flat at Killarney 14 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 13406-2

Kavanaghs Cross^t¹⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 114| DWS

3/1

Got off the mark at Kelso in December but off 179 days since only seventh in handicap at Doncaster (19.4f) on his final run for Iain Jardine. Had a wind op too so no forlorn hope for his new yard.

Form: 223127-

Bellaney Gem^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 108

6/1

In good form until cheekpieces on when only fourth of 5 in handicap hurdle at Cartmel (17.2f) 11 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 56-6444

Malangen¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 106| CD

9/4

C&D winner who wasn't discredited when fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Cartmel (22.1f) 11 days ago. Not ruled out eased 1 lb.

Form: 761515

Lady Babs^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 97

10/3

Dual 2m winner at Market Rasen last season who posted another good effort there when unlucky second of 9 in handicap 24 days ago, just failing having had to wait to make her challenge. Big player.

Form: 1412-22

Forecasts

Malangen (9/4), Kavanaghs Cross (3/1), Lady Babs (10/3), Britzka (6/1), Bellaney Gem (6/1), Arvico Bleu (22/1)

LADY BABS is a likeable sort who didn't enjoy the rub of the green when runner-up at Market Rasen at the start of the month and she can go one better here. Malangen is enjoying a good run of form at present and this C&D winner is feared most with Kavanaghs Cross not dismissed either on his first run for Ann Duffield after a wind op.