Fiddy Thornes Birthday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 20.1s

Eritage¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 125| C

10/1

Useful chaser for Paul Nicholls but struggled for current yard last season, including back over hurdles. However, after 10 months off he showed he retains his ability when third in handicap hurdle at Worcester (20f) 19 days ago. Well treated if building on that.

Form: FP46P-3

Vision Des Flos^t⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 122

9/2

Back over fences, returned to winning ways at Warwick (20f) in September and continued in good heart until a poor effort at Stratford in April. After 2 months off, not discredited reverted to hurdling when fourth at Fontwell (19.2f) in May. Lurks on a dangerous mark.

Form: 2422P-4

Thirtyfourstitches⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121| BF| D

4/1

Won 7 times in a prolific 2021/22 campaign and recorded a pair of victories at Plumpton (both at 20.5f) last season. Faced competition for the lead when below-par at Fakenham in April, but he's dangerous if getting his own way out in front and could be the way to go here.

Form: 1P1723-

San Giovanni²⁹⁷

5/1

Won his first 2 starts last summer, successful in a C&D novice in July. However, found it tougher when well held on handicap debut at Worcester in September. Still remains early days, though, as he returns from 10 months off (has had a wind op).

Form: 03R/119-

Pyramid Place^h⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 116| D

6/5

Having dropped to his last winning mark, bounced back from a below-par effort when winning 7-runner handicap at Cartmel (22.1f) in May, suited by the return to a left-handed track. Remains on a workable mark and can give another good account.

Form: 1344-51

Blackhillsofdakota^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 105

125/1

Heavy defeats both starts over fences for this yard in 2021 and, after a 20-month absence, offered little back over hurdles when pulled up at Southwell 3 weeks ago. Best watched.

Form: 2323P/P

Forecasts

Pyramid Place (6/5), Thirtyfourstitches (4/1), Vision Des Flos (9/2), San Giovanni (5/1), Eritage (10/1), Blackhillsofdakota (125/1)

A nine-time winner over hurdles, THIRTYFOURSTITCHES could be able to put his favoured front-running tactics to good use in this contest, so he is taken to add to his tally on his return. Pyramid Place got back to winning ways on his latest outing and is feared most, ahead of Eritage off his career-low mark.