Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 42.74s

Sir Psycho^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| C

7/2

Won three times as a juvenile hurdler in 2019/20 season. Very lightly raced since and he suffered a nasty experience when switched to fences on his return from 2 years off at Bangor, falling heavily at the second then crashing through a wing when loose. Not easy to assess back hurdling.

Form: 11559/F

Stoner's Choice^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 133| D

13/2

Winning start over fences in a match at Kempton in May but let down by some shoddy jumping on his next 2 starts. Respectable third back hurdling at Doncaster (19.5f) since.

Form: 65-1433

Chianti Classico³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 131| D

4/6

Bumper winner who has looked useful when winning maiden/novice events at Chepstow (19.5f) and Market Rasen (20.5f) since switching to hurdles. An opening handicap mark in the low-130s looks manageable.

Form: 1/210-11

Longshanks¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 113| C

7/1

Got off the mark over fences with a career best in 9-runner handicap at Exeter (19f, heavy) last March but has disappointed since, tailed off when unseating 5 out here on Boxing Day. Remains to be seen if a switch to hurdles sparks a revival.

Form: 4214-PU

Non-Runners

Jubilee Express⁶⁰

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: S Thomas J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Chianti Classico (4/6), Sir Psycho (7/2), Jubilee Express (4/1), Stoner's Choice (13/2), Longshanks (7/1)

CHIANTI CLASSICO doesn't appear overburdened from an opening mark in the low-130s and can stretch his unbeaten hurdle record to 3. Jubilee Express would be the chief threat if showing up here (due to run at Ludlow Friday), with Stoner's Choice next best.