Andy Blight And His Amigos Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 3m 57.30s

Valentino Dancer^t⁴¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| CD

12/1

Made solid start for this yard in 2021/22, winning twice over hurdles (at around 2m) either side of success on Flat. Possibly needed the run when well held at Chepstow when last seen in April last year, but he's been off a further 13 months since.

Form: 313125/

Throne Hall¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: A Watson| OR: 122

10/3

Useful on the Flat and winner of first 2 starts over hurdles. However, soft ground appeared to be against him when well held at Kempton on Boxing Day and ran no sort of race when pulled up at Taunton next time. Could get back on track returned to a sounder surface.

Form: 114P-

Dancila⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

7/4

Useful Flat winner in Ireland for Jim Bolger and excellent start over hurdles when seeing off 3 winners at Musselburgh in February. Hasn't advanced his form in defeat twice since, but it's still early days and can resume winning ways now switching to handicap company.

Form: 123-

Coolnaugh Haze¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 111

11/4

Fair handicap hurdler who returned to form when fourth at Ludlow in May and backed up that effort when runner-up at Warwick 10 days later, only beaten by a head. Can give his running again.

Form: 6626-42

Just The Man^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 110

13/2

Had been given a chance by the handicapper and left his reappearance effort behind when runner-up at Ffos Las 11 days ago, headed on the line. Can give another good account with cheekpieces now back on.

Form: 54F9-62

Aliomaana^h²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 108

16/1

Got back on track in a refitted hood after 4 months off when landing handicap hurdle at Stratford in October. However, not in the same form when fourth of 6 at Hereford later the same month. Others make more appeal on her return from 7-month absence.

Form: 56/5414-

Non-Runners

Thahab Ifraj²⁰⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 10

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Ben Bromley

Forecasts

Dancila (7/4), Coolnaugh Haze (11/4), Throne Hall (10/3), Just The Man (13/2), Valentino Dancer (12/1), Aliomaana (16/1), Thahab Ifraj (25/1)

A useful winner on the Flat, DANCILA made an impressive start over hurdles when successful at Musselburgh in February and was left with too much to do when third at Huntingdon on his latest outing. He can resume winning ways on his handicap debut, with Just The Man feared most after he was only narrowly denied last time. Coolnaugh Haze also merits consideration.