Racing Again 25th January Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 4m 7.79s

The Navigator⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 119| C

25/1

Reliable sort who landed 2m4f Kelso handicap in September. Largely in good form since, caught further back than ideal when sixth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Aintree (20f) 81 days ago so he's in the picture.

Form: 272156

Moonlight Spirit⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 115

10/1

Smart stayer on Flat in 2019 for Charlie Appleby. Lightly raced since but made a winning hurdles debut last December. Pulled up in Haydock conditions event only run since. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 1-P

El Muchacho^h,t¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: M F Harris| OR: 104| D

5/6

Point winner who has improved a chunk with each of his three runs over hurdles, easily landing 2m Plumpton handicap 10 days ago. Very much the one to beat under a 7 lb penalty.

Form: 1-24321

Can't Stop Now^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 109| D

14/1

Unreliable sort who came in below-par fifth of 8 to Zamond in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f) 34 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 1F0/6-35

Zamond^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102

9/1

Back to winning ways in 8-runner handicap hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f) 34 days ago. Can make his presence felt nudged up just 2 lb.

Form: 120391

Prairie Wolf^p1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 98| D

5/2

Fairly useful dual bumper winner but yet to score in this sphere and he came in only ninth at Wetherby (2m4f) on his handicap debut 17 days ago. More is required.

Form: 19-3839

Non-Runners

Applaus⁴⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 11

T: Micky Hammond J: Emma Smith-Chaston

Forecasts

El Muchacho (5/6), Prairie Wolf (5/2), Applaus (7/1), Zamond (9/1), Moonlight Spirit (10/1), Can't Stop Now (14/1), The Navigator (25/1)

EL MUCHACHO arrives firmly on the up and is impossible to side against turned out under a 7 lb penalty for his impressive Plumpton success. Doncaster scorer Zamond is next on the list ahead of the likeable The Navigator.