Scone Estates Stone Of Destiny Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 3m 52.85s

Too Friendly^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: James Owen| OR: 133| D

2/1

Winner of 2 of his 5 starts since joining this yard, including last time at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to soft) where he proved 1½ lengths too good for Castel Gandolfo. 5 lb rise by no means the end of the world and another bold show anticipated with Harry Cobden again in the hot-seat.

Form: 3-31V21

Castel Gandolfo^b,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

7/2

Career best when winning 5-runner handicap at Kelso (2m, good to firm) in May. Around 8 lengths adrift of Too Friendly at Cartmel next time but got much closer to that rival at Market Rasen last month and should give another good account.

Form: 452-152

Earth Company^h1,t1¹⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 124| D

33/1

Won twice over hurdles in 2021, including a handicap off this mark at Wincanton. Little disappointing over fences since, though, and probably best watched returned to this sphere for new yard in a first-time headgear combination.

Form: 9/6F2P-F

Finisk River^p,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122

15/2

Good record since fitted with cheekpieces and tongue strap, winning 4 times and runner-up on 3 occasions in the headgear combination last year. Better signs on second run since returning from a break at Cartmel but this trip appears to be too sharp for him nowadays.

Form: 1112-55

Liverpool Knight²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 120| D

3/1

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 1¾m) and made it third time lucky over hurdles at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last month. Followed up over the same C&D on better ground 17 days later and makes his handicap debut in this sphere on what may prove to be a fair mark.

Form: 35-11

Well Planted¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: R M Smith| OR: 116| CD

6/1

Added a second success over this C&D to his tally earlier this month. Did the job in decisive fashion that day and should be on the premises once again, albeit a 5 lb rise could ultimately leave him vulnerable in this stronger race.

Form: 96-4321

Dexter^p1,t1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 110

22/1

Multiple winner in France (in this sphere and over fences) but hasn't made much of an impact in 3 starts since joining present yard and opposable on his first start on these shores.

Form: 9P2-300

Forecasts

Too Friendly (2/1), Liverpool Knight (3/1), Castel Gandolfo (7/2), Well Planted (6/1), Finisk River (15/2), Dexter (22/1), Earth Company (33/1)

This represents a much tougher task than that which LIVERPOOL KNIGHT has faced in winning novice events at Uttoxeter the last twice, but he's unexposed in this sphere and may well have more to offer now pitched into a handicap off a reasonable mark. Too Friendly outpointed Castle Gandolfo at Market Rasen last month and is taken to again get the better of that rival and emerge as the main danger.