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Off time: 15:13 | Winning time: 5m 24.9s

Baron De Midleton^b²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 121

11/1

Won a trio of handicap chases in 2022/23, the latest in 3-runner event at Carlisle in March. However, bled when pulled up on final outing of last season and has failed to complete both starts so far this season, too.

Form: 211P-PP

Haafapiece⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 120

5/1

Went backwards following an encouraging reappearance when pulled up at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) in November. However, subsequent break will have freshened him up and he could have a part to play off this reduced mark if on-song.

Form: 7243-2P

Jac Jumper^t1³¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Chris Ward⁽³⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 118

33/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles in France, winner of a juvenile event at Dieppe in August 2022, and also showed fair form when placed once from 2 starts in 4-y-o events over fences last February. Still, probably worth taking on starting out for new connections here.

Form: 1835-

Charles St^b⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 114| CD

9/4

Tricky customer who finally got the job done over hurdles when seeing off 9 rivals with blinkers refitted (on again here) over C&D (good to soft) in November. Tom Broughton again aboard and good chance up 5 lb, provided he's in the same form.

Form: 222-251

Homme D'Un Soir^p,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 114

9/4

Pretty useful hurdler/chaser for Stuart Crawford but let down by his jumping in hunters for Francesca Poste in the spring (also failed to win in points). However, step back in the right direction when third of 14 for new yard returned to hurdles at Doncaster (16.6f, good to soft) last month. Player.

Form: 3F4-2P3

Our Bill's Aunt^t1⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 107WS

7/2

Consistent sort who opened her account at Chepstow on last season's reappearance. Perhaps the combination of testing conditions and the trip (24.3f) amounted to too much of a test on her return this time round at Southwell. Since undergone a wind op and sports a first-time tongue strap here.

Form: 13332-3

Non-Runners

Sizing Pottsie²⁸

Weight: 12-1| Age: 10

T: D Pipe J: Fergus Gillard

Forecasts

Homme D'Un Soir (9/4), Charles St (9/4), Our Bill's Aunt (7/2), Haafapiece (5/1), Sizing Pottsie (6/1), Baron De Midleton (11/1), Jac Jumper (33/1)

HOMME D'UN SOIR put in a good shift back hurdling on debut for Billy Aprahamian at Doncaster and, down another 1 lb and back up in trip here, he could be the answer to this trappy-looking contest. It remains to be seen if Charles St will reproduce the form of his C&D success last time but he'll certainly be a threat if able to do so, while cases can also be made for Haafapiece and Our Bill's Aunt.