Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 5m 4.75s

Sambezi^p,t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: O Signy| OR: 106| BF| C

6/1

Sole win over hurdles came here in 2021 and he ran up to his best when second of 12 in handicap hurdle at this course (17.7f, good to soft) 30 days ago. Form of that race is working out well and he's respected.

Form: 285232

Issar D'Airy²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 103| BF| D

11/8

Travelled well when off the mark at Lingfield in January and showed improved form under a penalty when a close second at Taunton last time. Not discounted despite sizeable rise in weights.

Form: 73-7P12

Belgarum³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 99

20/1

Went off 125/1 but showed a lot more when third of 8 in novice hurdle at this course (17.7f, good to soft) 30 days ago, not knocked about. Capable of better now handicapping, though opening mark looks harsh.

Form: 6-793

Auba Me Yang²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 98

10/3

Much improved when winning 6-runner event on handicap debut at Ffos Las (15.8f, soft, 9/4) 27 days ago. Will stay this far and 10 lb rise looks manageable, so has to be taken seriously.

Form: 34/7-051

Calidad²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Cian Chester⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 94| BF

7/1

Proved he retains ability when second on handicap hurdle debut at Hereford in January and wasn't disgraced when fourth of 8 in handicap at Market Rasen (20.6f, good) 29 days ago, though again failed to see his race out and weak finishing remains a concern.

Form: 5-P3724

Clongowes^b,t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 89

15/2

Shaped as if back in form when sixth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Lingfield (23f, good, 16/1) 16 days ago. More at home over this kind of trip and could be worth market check with blinkers back on.

Form: 3/P33-66

Non-Runners

Sami Bear²⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: C Gordon J: Freddie Gordon

Forecasts

Issar D'Airy (11/8), Auba Me Yang (10/3), Sami Bear (4/1), Sambezi (6/1), Calidad (7/1), Clongowes (15/2), Belgarum (20/1)

AUBA ME YANG proved a different proposition when ridden by this conditional to score on his handicap bow last time and is expected to improve further to defy a 10 lb rise in the weights. Fellow last-time-out winner Sami Bear is also much respected, whilst Sambezi is another who shouldn't be dismissed after his good second here last month.