Xenon Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:44 | Winning time: 5m 15.84s

Ballygeary³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119

4/7

Very positive start to his hurdles career at the beginning of 2023, again going with plenty of zest when completing the hat-trick in novice company at Kelso in March. Returned with good third of 18 in Cheltenham handicap (16.4f, good) 36 days ago and must enter calculations off same mark.

Form: 21110-3

Skycutter⁴⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 118

11/8

Below par when last seen on Flat 13 months ago but won twice over hurdles as a juvenile and needs monitoring in market on return/debut for Dan Skelton here.

Form: 11829/

Non-Runners

Issam²⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: T Symonds J: Jordan Nailor

Magical King²¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 4

T: S Edmunds J: C Gethings

Iontach Cheval²⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: S Bowen

Diamand De Vindecy²⁷

Weight: 10-8| Age: 4

T: R Bevis J: Sean Houlihan

Forecasts

Ballygeary (4/7), Skycutter (11/8), Magical King (2/1), Issam (11/4), Iontach Cheval (12/1), Diamand De Vindecy (25/1)

ISSAM may have done too much too soon when an encouraging third on his Sandown reappearance last month and can get back on the winning trail in the opener. Handicap debutant Magical King is feared most.