Scottish Racing Academy Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 6m 8.13s

Themanintheboots^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 112| C

3/1

Showed improved form to get off the mark at this course (20.2f, good) just over 3 weeks ago, well on top at the finish but needing plenty of riding to get to that point. Hiked up 9 lb for that

Form: 946-8P1

Petrastar^h,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 111| CD

11/4

3-time hurdle winner earlier in career who wasn't seen to best effect under a change of tactics on chase debut at Huntingdon in May. Stepped up on that when a wide-margin winner at this course (23.8f, good) just over 3 weeks ago and back over timber, he can go on again.

Form: P/236-U1

Motion In Limine^b1,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 110| D

12/1

Registered first success for present yard in 3m handicap hurdle at Southwell last summer. Folded next 2 starts at Worcester and a subsequent breathing operation failed to make him see his race out any better at Hexham recently (when also tongue tied).

Form: 4/316-84

Fabuleux Du Clos^t¹²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: S G West| OR: 110WS

10/3

Lightly-raced 8-y-o (presumably hasn't been the easiest to train) who made a winning handicap debut in a first-time tongue strap at Newcastle (2½m, heavy) in March. 7 lb rise manageable if returning from a break in similar form (has had wind surgery).

Form: 323/341-

Starlyte^p,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102| BF

5/1

Made a winning return to hurdles for new yard at Newcastle (20.3f) in November and largely creditable efforts in defeat since, latest when third over C&D 5 weeks ago. Amateur takes over in the saddle but she's not out of things.

Form: 3455-33

Colonel Manderson^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 93| D

14/1

Fair 3m hurdles winner for Dan Skelton but good deal to prove judged on his exploits to date for present yard, running no sort of race at Cartmel earlier this month. Best watched.

Form: 5P-U05P

Dalileo²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Dowson| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 92| C

14/1

Sole success came at this track (2½m) in 2021 and he made frame on four of first 5 starts last year. Showed a bit more than on stable debut when fourth at this C&D (good) just over 3 weeks ago and dropped another chunk by the handicapper since.

Form: 35FP-P4

Forecasts

Petrastar (11/4), Themanintheboots (3/1), Fabuleux Du Clos (10/3), Starlyte (5/1), Motion In Limine (12/1), Dalileo (14/1), Colonel Manderson (14/1)

The trio of last-time-out winners look the ones to focus on, with PETRASTAR selected to make a winning return to hurdling having been a wide-margin winner on his second start over fences here just over 3 weeks ago. Second choice is Irish-raider Themanintheboots, who was another winner on that card and though hit hard by the handicapper, is fancied to be in the mix once again. Fabuleux du Clos makes his return after 4 months off the track and he completes the shortlist.