Matt Hampson Foundation Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:20 | Winning time: 6m 23.1s

Western Jill^h1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 99

8/1

Showed plenty to work on making hurdling debut when third in novice at this course (20.4f) in February. Ran to a similar level next 2 starts, before getting no further than the first on her chasing bow. Could have more to offer back over hurdles with hood on first time.

Form: 2/324U-

Callisto's King^p1,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 98

9/4

Ran best race over hurdles when second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (2m3f) in November, bumping into a well-treated rival. Again shaped well when fourth of 18 at Exeter (strong form for the grade) and can be thereabouts once more with cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 474/524-

Secret Trix^p1⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 96| BF

9/4

Off the mark in novice handicap at Fakenham (23.4f) in November and shaped as if still in good form both starts since, set too much to do when third at Lingfield in February. Cheekpieces on first time and he remains unexposed at this trip.

Form: 00/5133-

First Man^t,v⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 88WS

11/2

Missed 2021/22 but proved he retains ability when third in 19-runner handicap at Doncaster (24,4f) in January. Ran no sort of race over fences next time, but soon back to form returned to hurdling when third at Sedgefield in February. Major player having had a wind op.

Form: 1/0P373-

Coconut Twist^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Reed| T: B Barr| OR: 81

10/3

Showed a bit in his three qualifying runs over hurdles but failed to improve for the switch to handicaps earlier this year. However, upped in trip he bounced back to form when runner-up at Fontwell (21.8f) a fortnight ago. Task is now to build on his latest effort.

Form: 3P640-2

Sight Nor Seen^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 79

66/1

Fair hurdler/chaser in Ireland at his best but has shown little for present connections, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen last time. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: PP7P5P-

Non-Runners

Millie Of Mayo⁹⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: N G Richards J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Secret Trix (9/4), Callisto's King (9/4), Coconut Twist (10/3), First Man (11/2), Western Jill (8/1), Millie Of Mayo (14/1), Sight Nor Seen (66/1)

FIRST MAN soon returned to form back over hurdles when third at Sedgefield in February and, having had a wind op since then, he could be ready to take advantage of his current mark. Callisto's King has shaped well on his last 2 starts and could be the main danger in first-time cheekpieces, while Western Jill also merits consideration.