Racing TV Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:08 | Winning time: 4m 31.27s

Will Sting³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 111

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler who was runner-up off 9 lb higher at Sandown just over a year ago. Might have needed last month's Warwick reappearance and could fare better this time.

Form: 25/24P-8

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Ithaka⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: R Potter| OR: 110

18/1

Largely well held over hurdles for Ronan McNally in Ireland, including a handicap in October, but he is one to note in the betting on this first outing for a new stable.

Form: 0/P8600

Gerard Mentor^t,v¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁸⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 102| CD

11/4

Seeking a hat-trick after 2m wins at Exeter and Ludlow last month. Scored by 18 lengths at latter venue 10 days ago so a 7 lb penalty may not stop him.

Form: 841411

Royle Steel²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 108| D

20/1

Sedgefield maiden hurdle winner last winter. Relatively unexposed now switching to handicap company for the first time on reappearance but his opening mark isn't obviously generous.

Form: 55125-

Natty Night²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ned Fox⁽⁶⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 107| BF

11/4

Fairly useful on Flat for William Muir and built on hurdles debut promise when landing 2m Taunton maiden (soft) in January. Best run in handicaps since when third on 2m Hereford reappearance 23 days ago. May do better with that outing behind him.

Form: 4144-3

Iceman Dennis³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 104WS

20/1

A touch disappointing since his near miss in a bumper on debut but latest Stratford novice third represented an improved effort over hurdles and he may do better again now handicapping. Cheekpieces off. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 39-3U43

Ilanz^h²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 103| CD

3/1

Showed fairly useful form in bumpers. In the frame on both hurdle starts this autumn and rates a likely improver now making a quick switch to handicaps.

Form: 31243

Forecasts

Natty Night (11/4), Gerard Mentor (11/4), Ilanz (3/1), Will Sting (4/1), Ithaka (18/1), Iceman Dennis (20/1), Royle Steel (20/1)

GERARD MENTOR won easily under Kai Lenihan at the beginning of last week and a 7 lb penalty may not prevent him going in again. Natty Night shaped well on his reappearance and his yard's good form provides hope he can build on that so he's feared most ahead of Milton Harris handicap newcomer Ilanz.