Howden Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 3m 55.40s

Mr Freedom⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 125| C| D

3/1

Most consistent sort produced another sound effort when second of 12 in handicap hurdle (9/1) at Taunton (19f, good to soft) 56 days ago. Nudged back 2 lb but he's proven under testing conditions and another good account seems likely.

Form: 4-233U2

Holly⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

7/1

Hasn't stood much racing but had been given a chance by the handicapper and, back under less testing conditions, ran out an impressive winner in a 6-runner handicap at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to soft, 16/1) 55 days ago. Ground here is an unknown but she's hard to dismiss after that effort.

Form: 1/38-851

Classic Lord¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 120

10/3

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. Back to form when runner-up at Sandown last month and he's respected.

Form: 731152

Mr Mackay³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

4/1

Off the marks over hurdles at the second time of asking debut when landing 6-runner Huntingdon maiden (19.5f) in October. Brushed off a rare poor effort with a creditable second of 8 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, good to soft) 35 days ago and he's shortlisted with 7 lb claimer back aboard.

Form: 315492

Saligo Bay⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 107| BF| CD

13/2

Capitalised on another drop in grade when winning a C&D seller in December. Well backed when falling early here the following month and he's respected from a fair-looking mark.

Form: 464-21F

Highway One O Five⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 102

9/2

Fair form first 2 runs in bumpers and showed ability initially over hurdles. However, latest effort at Kempton represented a step in the wrong direction and more is required now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 33-0649

Non-Runners

Mardoof⁷³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: M Hunt J: Sean Houlihan

Forecasts

Mr Freedom (3/1), Classic Lord (10/3), Mr Mackay (4/1), Highway One O Five (9/2), Saligo Bay (13/2), Holly (7/1), Mardoof (25/1)

MR FREEDOM has barely put a foot wrong since landing a hat-trick on the Flat in the summer, and given his proven suitability for testing ground, gets the verdict over Mr Mackay, who arrives after a largely positive campaign in his first season over hurdles. Saligo Bay attracted strong support on the back of winning in selling company last year and isn't ruled out of making amends for his early fall on that occasion.