Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 42.20s

Will Carver^t²⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126

3/1

Won a Kempton maiden and Perth novice in early summer 2021 and shaped as if retaining all his ability sent handicapping after 21 months off when third at former track in February. Off again since but this less competitive.

Form: 93211/3-

Afadil^p1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127| C

3/1

Better than result in Fred Winter at the Festival and showed himself to be well handicapped when comfortably seeing off 14 rivals at the Ayr Scottish National meeting in April. However, failed to meet expectations at Cheltenham on return and ran no sort of race there 11 days ago. Headgear on.

Form: 6821-7P

Forever William^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 124| CD

4/1

Responded well when narrowly prevailing in 19f Taunton handicap in January and back on track when making a winning return at Plumpton, holding on gamely. Respected up 3 lb.

Form: 2512P-1

Bashful Boy^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 123| D

6/1

Back-to-back winner on the Flat at the start of the summer and completed a hat-trick back hurdling at Newton Abbot. Well suited by the emphasis on stamina when fourth in Cesarewitch at Newmarket but turned in a lacklustre display back hurdling at Cheltenham 2 weeks later. Back down in trip.

Form: 5FF-19P

Decorated^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: O Signy| OR: 117| BF| CD

3/1

Bumper winner who progressed well over hurdles last term, making all (over 19f) in Sedgefield novice and C&D handicap (tongue tied). Ran no sort of race at Wetherby on return, however.

Form: 25211-P

Chabadatika²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: S Hosie| OR: 111

250/1

Fair form over hurdles in France but well held starting out for this yard at Exeter after 11 months off 3 weeks ago.

Form: 9FF51-7

Forecasts

Will Carver (3/1), Decorated (3/1), Afadil (3/1), Forever William (4/1), Bashful Boy (6/1), Chabadatika (250/1)

WILL CARVER shaped as if retaining all his ability back from a long absence at Kempton in February and could make up for lost time this season. Bashful Boy might have found Cheltenham coming too soon after his big effort in the Cesarewitch so is worth another chance, while Forever William looked better than ever when making a winning return at Plumpton.