Happy 80th Birthday Robert Elsmore Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 15.93s

Ideal Pal^p1,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: C Collins| OR: 122| D

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler. First run since leaving Michael Mulvany when third of 16 in novice chase at Fairyhouse and was still going well when falling 3 out in similar event at Clonmel since. One to consider back over hurdles.

Form: 710-P3F

Midnight Ginger⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 120| D

5/4

Likeable mare who added to her tally in 2m Newbury handicap on New Year's Eve. Good fifth in Ffos Las handicap since and seems likely to go well in this lesser race.

Form: 31-2315

Krypton Gold²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 114| D

7/2

Ended last season with ready win at Ascot in March and has held his form admirably this term, third at Fontwell last time. Merits respect again.

Form: 222353

Lipa K⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 99| BF

10/3

Bumper winner in Ireland last May. Best run over hurdles for new stable when sixth of 13 in 2m Leicester novice just after Christmas but proved something of a let-down on handicap debut at Market Rasen 51 days ago. Too soon to write off.

Form: 18367

Non-Runners

Mayhem Mya²³

Weight: 11-13| Age: 6

T: C Honour J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Midnight Ginger (5/4), Mayhem Mya (5/4), Lipa K (10/3), Krypton Gold (7/2), Ideal Pal (9/2)

MIDNIGHT GINGER added to her tally at Newbury on New Year's Eve and dropping in grade here, Andrew Martin's charge gets the verdict to score again. Lipa K proved a let-down on handicap debut last month, but it's too soon to be writing him off, so he may pose as the main threat, while a case could be made for the remaining duo, also.