Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 4m 48.30s

Rowdy Rustler^p1,t¹²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 106

15/2

Newcastle maiden hurdle winner last February and promising second on his chase debut at the same course in November. However, it's been pretty much downhill all the way since, including back in this sphere last time, and hopes pinned on first-time cheekpieces sparking a revival.

Form: 1/23PF-8

Balkalin^t⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 103| CD

11/2

Veteran who built on encouraging reappearance third at Hexham in April and scored over this C&D the following month. However, he remains 3 lb above that winning mark despite offering little in 4 subsequent starts.

Form: 3-1888P

Call Me Harry²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny McMenamin| T: I Jardine| OR: 103

5/2

Looked a fair operator in bumpers (dual winner) but bled on his first 3 starts over hurdles. Better signs in a couple of maidens at Perth since returning from a break/wind op, though, and he needs a second look on this handicap debut.

Form: 4/5PP-44

I Am Spider Man¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Philip Byrnes⁽³⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 102| BF

5/4

Bagged a Sedgefield handicap for previous connections in October. More miss than hit since (no show tried over fences last time) but he was runner-up on latest start in this sphere at Tramore and a reproduction of that effort would give him a fighting chance.

Form: 10-FP29

Ayr Of Elegance^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 94| D

40/1

Capitalised on a falling mark when winning 4-runner handicap at Newton Abbot (18.5f, good to firm) in June. She's not the easiest to catch right, though, and has performed poorly in 2 subsequent outings at Stratford.

Form: 24-61P9

Darkest Day^p,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 88

9/1

Scored at Wetherby in March and runner-up at Perth on next 2 starts. Form has dipped since but mark is on the slide as a result and he'd be in with a shout if able to get back on track here.

Form: 12-2949

Non-Runners

Jimmy Rabbitte²⁴

Weight: 11-8| Age: 10

T: W Coltherd J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

I Am Spider Man (5/4), Jimmy Rabbitte (9/4), Call Me Harry (5/2), Balkalin (11/2), Rowdy Rustler (15/2), Darkest Day (9/1), Ayr Of Elegance (40/1)

JIMMY RABBITTE is taken to deservedly bring the curtain down on a long losing run. The 10-y-o returned to form when going close over this C&D in May and has remained in good form since, leaving the strong impression that a belated return to the winner's enclosure is near. There could be better to come from Call Me Harry now switched to handicap company and he is second choice ahead of I Am Spider Man and Darkest Day.