Charles Church South Midlands Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 1.1s

Peace Of Rome⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 108

6/1

Fair in bumpers and similar form over hurdles for Nicky Henderson, fourth in a 23f handicap here when last seen in May. Changed hands for £31,000 thereafter but marked drop back in trip may not suit ideally here.

Form: 2/2347-4

Mix Of Clover³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A Ralph| OR: 108| CD

12/1

Dual hurdles/chase winner who disappointed in 3 starts last year but arrives here having shaped encouragingly on back of 8 months off when fourth of in C&D handicap hurdle 5 weeks ago. Could well be worth chancing to build on that now.

Form: 13/U47-4

Fanfaron Dino^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 107| BF| D

13/2

Weak in the betting but produced his best effort to date when successful at Fontwell (17.7f, good to firm) in May. However, not the most consistent and he ran well below that level back at that venue in June, finding little. Return to softer ground should hold no fears on back of 6 weeks off.

Form: 1/24-315

State Of Bliss⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 105| D

10/3

Fairly useful on Flat for the Johnston stable and made most of good opportunity to open hurdles account in 4-runner Fakenham maiden (2m) in June. Below best returned to the level at Goodwood (14f) but no surprise to see a better showing now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 5-321

Fandabidozi²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: G Hanmer| OR: 102

15/2

Modest stayer on the Flat who matched previous best over hurdles when third in a Stratford maiden (16.3f) 23 days ago, upsides briefly 2 out and no extra run-in. Claims of making the frame again partnered by Harry Cobden.

Form: 6-3243

Chasamax^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 98| CD

40/1

Three-time winner in this sphere for Nicky Henderson (including over C&D) but ended time with that yard below par and has continued in the same vein for current stable. Others make more appeal.

Form: 9PP-958

Alioski^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G Brown| OR: 97| CD

11/8

C&D maiden winner 13 months ago who matched that level when third of 8 in novices' handicap hurdle at Sandown (2m, soft) in December. Fit from couple of spins on Flat in recent months and good showing not ruled out back over timber.

Form: 2/F1493-

Forecasts

Alioski (11/8), State Of Bliss (10/3), Peace Of Rome (6/1), Fanfaron Dino (13/2), Fandabidozi (15/2), Mix Of Clover (12/1), Chasamax (40/1)

MIX OF CLOVER shaped encouragingly on the back of an 8-month absence when fourth in a C&D handicap 5 weeks ago from his much-reduced mark and he could be worth siding with to build on that here. Fanfaron Dino, back from a short break, and Alioski are others to consider. State of Bliss is another in the mix on handicap hurdle debut.