Animal Dramatics Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 4m 54.06s

Tulin^t²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 111| BF

15/2

Fairly useful hurdler at best but became disappointing for Paul Nicholls, finishing last in 6-runner handicap at Fontwell on final outing in October. Given a chance by the assessor on first start for new yard but is risky.

Form: 25/5336-

Platinumcard^t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 109

13/2

Ayr winner (16f) starting out for Gordon Elliott but more miss than hit for that yard after and has offered little both starts for new yard 5 months apart.

Form: 2/82409-

Dr Sanderson¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 107| C| D

7/2

Course winner/one-time useful hurdler who slipped up towards the end of the back straight in handicap hurdle at Worcester (20f, soft, 9/1) 19 days ago. Yard amongst the winners and would have to enter calculations if backed.

Form: 78650-F

Clapton Hill¹³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 102

13/2

Shaped well in sole bumper and reached the frame in 19f maiden/novice hurdles in the autumn. Backed out of things quickly on Huntingdon handicap bow in January but worth another chance to do better after a break.

Form: 334P-

Rock The House⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Katy Price| OR: 96

8/1

Unreliable type. Eleven runs since last win in 2021 and ran poorly after 6 months off at Uttoxeter last week. Not out of the question he could return to form but percentage call to look elsewhere.

Form: U7245-P

Nikhi³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 104| BF

9/4

Fairly useful 2m Flat winner for Jedd O'Keeffe. Changed hands for 78,000 gns and shaped promisingly when third on hurdles debut here over 2m. Held back by her jumping since but it's still early days and she remains with some potential based on Flat form.

Form: 3255-

Loved Out²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 93| C

15/2

Course winner in June and backed that up with a good second at Newton Abbot in August. However, ran one of his lesser races here last time and needs to hit the ground running after 7 months off.

Form: 4312U8-

Forecasts

Nikhi (9/4), Dr Sanderson (7/2), Clapton Hill (13/2), Platinumcard (13/2), Loved Out (15/2), Tulin (15/2), Rock The House (8/1)

CLAPTON HILL backed out of things pretty tamely on his Huntingdon handicap debut in January but is worth another chance given his earlier promise and lightly-raced profile. Nikhi could do with brushing up on her jumping but retains potential based on her fairly useful Flat form, while Dr Sanderson is another who can't be ruled out from a much-reduced mark, especially with his stable amongst the winners.