Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 55.9s

Kansas City Chief^p²³

Age: 14| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 128| CD

9/2

Not getting any younger but enjoyed a fine campaign last season, winning twice at Cheltenham and also struck at Plumpton. Best effort so far this term when third over C&D on penultimate start and while his latest display wasn't quite so good, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 10-5P34

Column Of Fire³⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 125

150/1

Pretty useful a couple of seasons back but has completely lost his way subsequent to a crashing fall in the 2020 Martin Pipe. Can only be watched starting out for new connections here.

Form: 8007PP-

Paricolor^b,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 122

7/2

Multiple hurdles winner during 2021 and back to his best when runner-up at Chepstow (23.6f) in December. Not entirely disgraced all things considered in a Warwick Class 2 last time and possibilities now back in calmer waters.

Form: 5-3P325

Grace A Vous Enki^p⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120

11/2

Dual winner of novice hurdles last term but efforts both in this sphere and over fences have not been particularly inspiring. Now has a bit to prove.

Form: P1-44FU

Midnightreflection^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: B I Case| OR: 120

11/4

Landed pair of mares' handicaps at up to 25f during 2020/21 campaign. Lightly-raced and largely below par since but returned to form when a clear second at Plumpton last time (Kansas City Chief 16 lengths adrift in fourth) and she remains on a very tempting mark.

Form: 3F-P872

Young Butler⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 118

18/5

Did well in this sphere last term, winning twice and signed off with close second in 23f Exeter handicap. However, failed to complete first 2 starts switched to fences this season and the return to hurdles/fitting of blinkers (discarded here) did not have the desired effect at Warwick.

Form: P12-URP

Lepashe²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: R T Dunne| T: S Allwood| OR: 109| D

7/1

Successful between the flags last spring and stepped up on previous Rules efforts when fourth in a 10-runner novice here (19.4f) last month. Couldn't rule out further progress back up in trip on this handicap debut, so he's worth a second look.

Form: U21-434

Forecasts

Midnightreflection (11/4), Paricolor (7/2), Young Butler (18/5), Kansas City Chief (9/2), Grace A Vous Enki (11/2), Lepashe (7/1), Column Of Fire (150/1)

MIDNIGHTREFLECTION appeared to have lost her way prior to bouncing back with a solid effort at Plumpton and, currently 9 lb below her last winning mark, she is easily the most appealing of these based on recent evidence. Kansas City Chief may well finish closer to the selection here than he did at Plumpton but a bigger threat is likely to be posed by Paricolor, who will find both this company and ground more suitable than what he encountered at Warwick last time.