Find & Strike Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 5m 30.40s

Classic Lord⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 119| C

8/1

Useful on Flat and came good over hurdles for his new yard when landing a brace of novices at Fontwell (2¼m) and Bangor (2m) before Christmas. A shade underwhelming when fifth on his handicap debut at Aintree but he was racing from 5 lb out of the weights that day.

Form: 0-73115

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Storming Nelson⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 117

7/1

Unpromising in points but going the right way under Rules, showing much improved form to get off the mark in 10-runner novice at Exeter (16.7f) 45 days ago. Into handicaps now and may do better still.

Form: P-65831

Titan Discovery¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Liam Harrison| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 115

8/11

Runner-up in 2 bumpers last spring and going the right way over hurdles, making a successful switch to handicaps at Ascot (2m, good to soft) in December and finding only the thrown-in Jingko Blue too strong over C&D subsequently. Every chance of resuming winning ways.

Form: 22-4212

Hard Rain⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 113

20/1

Shed his maiden status in a 17f Limerick handicap hurdle in July. Proved as good as ever when runner-up back there in October but found run of good form coming to a halt at Thurles the following month and has since left Padraig Butler.

Form: 1P2320

Wal Buck's³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107| BF

4/1

Has made an encouraging start to his hurdle career, again shaping well when neck second of 6 in novice hurdle (9/4) at Leicester (15.5f, heavy) 36 days ago. Makes handicap debut up in trip and open to further improvement.

Form: 4-542

Valens Bruyee²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 107

22/1

Left previous efforts in this sphere well behind back down markedly in trip when getting off the mark in a 11-runner novice at Chepstow (2m, heavy) 22 days ago. That form is nothing out of the ordinary, though, and more will be needed to follow up on handicap debut.

Form: 47P1

Forecasts

Titan Discovery (8/11), Wal Buck's (4/1), Storming Nelson (7/1), Classic Lord (8/1), Hard Rain (20/1), Valens Bruyee (22/1)

TITAN DISCOVERY has upped his game appreciably since being switched to handicaps and, having found only a thrown-in rival too good over C&D on his most outing, he's well worth siding with to resume winning ways. Wal Buck's and Storming Nelson are a pair of interesting handicap debutants, particularly the former who again shaped with plenty of promise when narrowly denied at Leicester last month.