Lowes Garage Home Of MOT's 30 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:23 | Winning time: 5m 39.8s

Irish Prophecy^p,t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 122| D

16/1

Went close in a Warwick handicap chase in September and still appeared to be going well prior to capitulating after the third-last back from 7 months off at Cartmel (29.4f, good). Mark in this sphere is significantly lower and drop back in trip should help, so he's dangerous to discount.

Form: 4P52P-R

Go Chique^p²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122| BF| D

7/1

Bumper winner who gained third hurdles victory back from a break at Bangor (23f, good) in September. Followed that with a solid second over 3m at Doncaster 2 months later (absent since but can clearly go well fresh) and she's a big player for top yard that saddled the winner of this in 2021.

Form: 3510/12-

Polish²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

3/1

Little impact in 4 starts on the Flat for John Gallagher in 2022 but, having rejoined former yard, he showed that plenty of ability remains when going close back hurdling over C&D (good) following a year off last month. Remains on a handy mark up 2 lb and he's a big player.

Form: 60466/2

Neville's Cross^v1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 120| D

18/1

Multiple chase winner who added another couple of small field handicaps to his tally last summer. Out of sorts since returning from a break in October, though, and while he is on a potentially lenient back hurdling in a first-time visor, the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 8P5P7-3

Mr Tambourine Man⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 119WS

8/1

Winner of handicap hurdles at Exeter (21.6f) and Ffos Las (20f) on good/good to soft last spring. However, well below par both starts since returning from 11 months off in March, and hopes here pinned on subsequent wind op helping to spark a return to form.

Form: 461/13-7

Gentleman Valley^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Dylan Whelan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 117| D

13/8

Profile chequered by some poor displays but he is a winner of 4 of his 9 starts in this sphere, including at Warwick and Market Rasen under Dylan Whelan the last twice. Up 6 lb for latest success (and also up in class here) but trip/ground fine and has to be respected in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 1254-11

Court Master^p⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 109| D

5/1

Useful winning chaser who gained latest success over fences in a 3-runner Newcastle handicap last February off a 19 lb higher mark than this. However, he's 0-5 over hurdles and was put firmly in his place by the winner returned to this sphere for new yard here in May.

Form: 148/PP-2

Forecasts

Gentleman Valley (13/8), Polish (3/1), Court Master (5/1), Go Chique (7/1), Mr Tambourine Man (8/1), Irish Prophecy (16/1), Neville's Cross (18/1)

It's hard to completely rule any of these out but POLISH is the most appealing following a fine effort in defeat back in this sphere over C&D last month. He remains 8 lb below his last winning mark and gets the nod ahead of Go Chique, who scored on the back of a similar absence at Bangor in September. The hat-trick seeking Gentleman Valley will be a threat, too, if keeping it together and Irish Prophecy is of interest back hurdling off an attractive mark.