Jenny Corke Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:49 | Winning time: 6m 19.33s

Imperial Storm³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

15/8

Perth bumper winner back in April 2021 and made a pleasing enough start over hurdles after 16 months off when second in 4-runner affair at Market Rasen in August. Progressed upped to 19.4f when third of 14 at Chepstow last month and may improve again now moving up to 3m for this handicap bow.

Form: 521/23

Juge Et Parti²⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 115| D

33/1

Did well in handicap chases last season, winning twice over 3m. Below par fourth at Ayr when last seen in March (since undergone a wind op) but resumes in this sphere on an attractive mark and his record when fresh augurs well, so there's certainly cause for optimism.

Form: 113434-

Happy Hollow^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 111| C

14/1

Runner-up twice off higher marks than this during the first half of last season and while his recent reappearance effort over 2½m at Uttoxeter was rather underwhelming, this is more his trip. Clearly needs to bounce back but that's by no means impossible.

Form: 22P54-6

Grand Du Nord¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Billy Garritty| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 110| BF

11/1

Hexham bumper winner in April 2021 and bettered previous hurdles efforts following a wind op when going close in a 2½m novice at the same course in May. However, disappointing back there the following month and needs to get back on track now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 1/625-23

Learntalot³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: O Murphy| OR: 109

11/2

Showed fair form when in the frame all 3 starts over hurdles last season. Failed to progress when fifth on return here (19.7f) in November but in good hands and needs a second look now that he moves up in trip for this handicap debut.

Form: 432-5

You Some Boy⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 104| CD

3/1

Completed the hat-trick when landing a C&D novice handicap in January, making it 2-2 here in the process. Left low-key reappearance well behind when finding only a progressive type too strong at Kelso (pair clear of the rest) and his yard has saddled 2 of the 4 previous winners of this race.

Form: 1119-92

Court At Slip^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 99

4/1

Lightly-raced 5-y-o who produced a career best when off the mark in handicap hurdle at Newcastle in March. Encouraging return when fourth in a 2½m Hexham handicap recently and while his previous spins beyond that trip have proved fruitless, he shapes as though he'll stay 3m.

Form: 7F014-4

Forecasts

Imperial Storm (15/8), You Some Boy (3/1), Court At Slip (4/1), Learntalot (11/2), Grand Du Nord (11/1), Happy Hollow (14/1), Juge Et Parti (33/1)

Cases can be made for the majority of these but it's IMPERIAL STORM who stands out on account of raw potential. He has shaped well in his 2 starts over hurdles since returning from a lay-off and there should be better to come now that he's pitched into a handicap over this new trip. You Some Boy bumped into an upwardly-mobile rival at Kelso and is feared greatly for a yard that has saddled the winner of this twice since 2018. Juge Et Parti and Court At Slip should both have a part to play, too.