bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 4m 56.62s

Watergrange Jack¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 122| C| D

5/6

Arrives on a hat-trick after wins at Worcester and over 2¾m here last month. A 5 lb rise may not prevent him going in again.

Form: 5-R2511

Shallow River⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 119| BF

5/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who ended his time with Fergal O'Brien with runner-up efforts at Market Rasen and Perth. Claims if showing up in similar form on his first outing for his new yard.

Form: 2P4-622

Icare Grandchamp²⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 105

5/2

Showed plenty of ability in 2 hurdle outings in France. Disappointed in 3 outings for this yard at the end of 2022 but no shock were he to bounce back with a bang after 9 months off. Hood he's worn previously in Britain left off. Market confidence would look significant.

Form: 62/5PP-

Sermando^p,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 104

10/1

Positive start for this yard when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at Fakenham and placed in hurdle/chase at Worcester on next 2 starts. Run of good form came to abrupt halt when pulled up over fences here last month.

Form: 47-132P

Non-Runners

Elham Valley¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Watergrange Jack (5/6), Icare Grandchamp (5/2), Elham Valley (9/2), Shallow River (5/1), Sermando (10/1)

WATERGRANGE JACK has discovered the winning habit lately and might be up to completing the hat-trick. Shallow River rates an obvious threat, while Icare Grandchamp can be made to look very well treated on his French form and is one to monitor closely in the betting back from a break.