interbet.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:26 | Winning time: 6m 49.87s

Shantou Express⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 128| BF| CD

9/4

C&D winner in June who backed it up with a creditable third of 5 to Scarpia in handicap hurdle at Worcester (23f, good) 49 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 5P0-913

Isthebaropen^t²⁸⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: G Hanmer| OR: 124| C

17/2

Course winner but he has been off for 9 months since turning in a rare poor effort in 3m handicap hurdle at Aintree. Has won when fresh though so he can't be dismissed.

Form: 14213P-

Gentleman Valley^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Dylan Whelan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 123

5/2

Is going from strength to strength and completed a hat-trick in 7-runner handicap hurdle at Worcester (23f, good) 29 days ago. Well on top at the finish there so he has to be taken seriously despite another 6 lb rise.

Form: 254-111

Hoganville⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 114| BF| D

13/2

Has done well in handicap hurdles for this yard, scoring for a fourth time at Kelso (22.7f) in May. Good effort at Hexham since and in the mix here.

Form: 113P-13

Mr Yeats^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 113| D

4/1

Won a trio of handicap hurdles last season and has returned in good form, second in 23f Uttoxeter handicap 15 days ago. Should go well again from an unchanged mark.

Form: 34-6322

Hunting Percival^t³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: James Best| T: S Hosie| OR: 111| C

10/1

Course winner but he was tried in a hood when pulled up in handicap chase at Newton Abbot (25.8f, good) 3 days ago. Headgear is dispensed with but switches to hurdles with something to prove.

Form: P2P12P

Non-Runners

Scarpia⁴⁹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Shantou Express (9/4), Gentleman Valley (5/2), Scarpia (3/1), Mr Yeats (4/1), Hoganville (13/2), Isthebaropen (17/2), Hunting Percival (10/1)

GENTLEMAN VALLEY has a career-high mark to overcome but still can't be opposed on the back of an emphatic Worcester success as he bids to make it four wins in a row. The consistent Mr Yeats seems sure to have a say in his attempt to bag a first win of 2023, with game Worcester scorer Scarpia also in the picture in a competitive handicap.