Broadsword Assured Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 4m 22.4s

Brookie^t⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 120

9/4

Fairly useful 2m hurdles winner who wasn't disgraced on his final run for Tony Martin when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Cork (17f, good to soft) 60 days ago. Not ruled out for his new yard.

Form: 70F64-4

Tapley¹⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 112| CD

10/3

Got off the mark over hurdles at Plumpton in February and not disgraced on his handicap debut when sixth of 15 at Sandown (16f, good to soft) in April. Still low mileage and can't be discounted on his return.

Form: 452216-

Clearance²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: M Blake| OR: 110

10/1

Already a three-time winner this season at Newton Abbot in August but turned in a rare below-par run when third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, good) 27 days ago. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 512113

Small Bad Bob¹⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 102| BF| CD

5/4

C&D winner who backed it up with a good second of 5 in handicap here (19.2f, good to firm) later in May on his final run for Paul Henderson. Weighted to go close on his yard debut after a break.

Form: 552-312

Forecasts

Small Bad Bob (5/4), Brookie (9/4), Tapley (10/3), Clearance (10/1)

None of these can be ruled out but the vote goes to SMALL BAD BOB who starts life with the excellent Chris Gordon on a handy-looking mark and can take full advantage. Clearance is a reliable sort and fancied to get back on track after a blip at Stratford, with Brookie and Tapley also in the mix.