Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 52.80s

Pisgah Pike^p,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132| CD

7/2

Career best when winning 11-runner Summer Hurdle (Handicap) at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to firm) 38 days ago, keeping on gamely. Up 4 lb now but could still have bit in hand from this mark (rated higher over fences).

Form: 3132-71

Hurricane Ali³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: J Mackie| OR: 123| D

7/2

Three wins from 7 runs last season. Genuine and largely reliable individual, though produced a rare below par effort when 12¾ lengths eighth of 11 to Pisgah Pike at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to firm, 17/2) 38 days ago. Sort to bounce back quickly.

Form: 1-41138

Glimpse Of Gold^t⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 123| D

16/1

Completed hat-trick from April to June, the third win coming in a 7-runner event at Stratford. Struggled in a stronger race there next time but can't be fully ruled out here.

Form: 431-116

Pillar Of Steel^p⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: J L Spearing| OR: 115| BF| CD

3/1

Won 5 times from 8 starts last season and produced another fine effort when 1¼ lengths second of 7 to Bannister in handicap hurdle (5/2) at this C&D (good) 50 days ago, clear of rest. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 113-822

Hiconic^t1⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 114| DWS

15/2

Missed all of last season and shaped as if still needing the run when ninth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Cartmel (17.2f, good to soft) 58 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time/had wind op. Others easier to fancy at present.

Form: 122P/59

Bannister^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 111| CD

3/1

Beat Pillar of Steel over C&D in July and ran at least as well when second of 7 in similar C&D event (good to soft) 33 days ago. Serious player again.

Form: 370-612

Forecasts

Bannister (3/1), Pillar Of Steel (3/1), Hurricane Ali (7/2), Pisgah Pike (7/2), Hiconic (15/2), Glimpse Of Gold (16/1)

There wasn't much between PILLAR OF STEEL and Bannister when they met over C&D earlier this summer and they look the pair to concentrate on. Preference is fractionally for John Spearing's charge this time. Summer Hurdle winner Pisgah Pike is another player.