Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 3m 1f 71y | 6 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| D

In process of running better when unseating at Doncaster on penultimate start and well backed, he duly made amends at Plumpton (25f) 23 days ago, showing best finishing speed in slowly-run race. 3 lb higher mark to defy but he's a big player in present groove.

Form: 1P-06U1

Hajey⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 115| C

Landed pair of Sedgefield handicaps earlier last year and having made a sound return to action this campaign, he kept on well to resume winning ways over 19.3f here 6 weeks ago. Possibilities if this longer trip doesn't prove too much of a test.

Form: 1-23U21

Nick Lost^p¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 115

Veteran hurdles/dual chase winner who has been below his best in recent starts, seventh in big field Cross Country chase at Punchestown (25f) 17 days ago. Does return to hurdles from a reduced mark though, and stable's runners command respect on these shores.

Form: 656047

Fingal's Hill¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P Atkinson| OR: 111| C

Fair bumper winner and gradually went right way in maiden/novice hurdles, ending last term with success in a Newcastle novice (16.2f) 12 months ago. Easy to back, shaped as if needing run on return/handicap debut at Carlisle in February and better showing anticipated up in trip here.

Form: 09721-8

Nora The Xplorer^b²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

Pair of mares' novice wins at up to 3m early last year and ran up to best (in first-time blinkers) when third in handicap at Doncaster (19.4f) in January. Not in same form back at that venue 4 weeks ago and she needs to pull out more from this sort of mark.

Form: 15-4336

City Derby^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 103

Won at Southwell last spring. Placed in Plumpton seller in November but not able to scale same heights in 2 runs for new yard last month. Up markedly in trip here.

Form: 7P2394

Forecasts

Crossing The Bar (6/4), Hajey (2/1), Nora The Xplorer (7/1), Nick Lost (8/1), City Derby (12/1), Fingal's Hill (12/1)

FINGAL'S HILL shaped as if needing his return after a year off at Carlisle recently and, having proved steadily progressive as a novice last term, he could just be worth siding with to leave that effort in his wake, with this sort of test promising to suit. Plumpton scorer Crossing The Bar can emerge as the lead threat, ahead of Hajey.