Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 12.33s

Langer Dan²⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| D

10/1

Landed the third big handicap win of his career when seeing off 25 rivals in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March. A 6 lb rise for that is fair enough but his best performances in recent years have been saved for the spring.

Form: B1/3781-

Soaring Glory¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137| BF

7/1

Smart hurdler who won the Betfair Hurdle in 2021. Not at his best last season but he did take a step back in the right direction when third at Aintree in May and is well treated if staging a full-scale revival.

Form: 35/P57-3

Cobblers Dream^t³⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: B I Case| OR: 136| CD

9/2

Enjoyed an excellent 2021/22 campaign, winning the Lanzarote over C&D and second in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival. Runner-up twice over fences at the end of 2022 but not seen since pulling up in last season's Lanzarote. Regular hood missing.

Form: 120/22P-

Dargiannini^t¹⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 136| D

2/1

Fell on chase/yard debut in December but better than ever when winning handicap hurdles around 2½m at Uttoxeter (soft) and Newbury (good to firm) on next 2 starts. Found out in big-field handicaps at Aintree and Haydock in the spring but reappears with his stable among the winners.

Form: P/F110-0

Kitty's Light¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 133

16/1

Most likeable staying chaser who signed off last season by landing an exceptional hat-trick, winning the Eider Chase, Scottish National and bet365 Gold Cup. Beaten 16 lengths into fourth back hurdling on his Aintree reappearance so needs to step up on that.

Form: 73111-4

Irish Hill²¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131WS

5/2

Progressive when completing a handicap hurdle hat-trick last winter. Higher marks found him out at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in the spring but no surprise were he to resume his progression now reappearing after wind surgery.

Form: 211100-

Copper Coin¹⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 131

11/1

Returned from a break to finish a good second over C&D in April. Not at the same form at Uttoxeter 4 weeks later but given another break since and fresh could be the time to catch him.

Form: 83/262-5

Forecasts

Dargiannini (2/1), Irish Hill (5/2), Cobblers Dream (9/2), Soaring Glory (7/1), Langer Dan (10/1), Copper Coin (11/1), Kitty's Light (16/1)

A useful handicap. If IRISH HILL has derived any benefit from a wind operation during the off-season he could be the way to go. This is a bit easier than the handicaps Dargiannini was contesting in the spring and Harry Derham has his team in form so he's second choice ahead of Copper Coin, who often goes well fresh.