Wiltshire Air Ambulance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 53.35s

Sporty Jim^p1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 115

11/2

Low-mileage 7-y-o who bounced back to form when second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (23.1f, soft) 30 days ago. Needs considering in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 731/5P2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Rare Clouds¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 110| C

5/1

Confirmed recent promise with success in 7-runner handicap here (21.4f, heavy) in January. Ran poorly when pulled up at Ascot last time but he's perhaps worth another chance back down in class.

Form: 4-2331P

Burrows Park¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 110

16/1

Proving inconsistent over hurdles this season and unseated his rider early back chasing at Hereford 11 days ago.

Form: 0-4524U

Madaket^p1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 107| BF

13/8

Left previous efforts well behind when making a winning handicap debut at Chepstow (19.5f, soft) on return in October. Hasn't matched that form in 3 subsequent outings but put in some good late work over 21f at Kempton last time and should be suited by a return to 3m. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 75-1652

Faded Fantasy^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 103

9/1

Southwell maiden winner who ran better than for a while in a first-time tongue strap when third of 7 in a handicap hurdle at Hereford (19.7f, soft) 22 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 21P753

Moonlight Artist⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 93

3/1

Got off the mark at Exeter (23f, soft) in November and backed it up with a solid third at Aintree (25f, heavy) in December. Below form on a sounder surface at Hereford last time but could bounce back with conditions in his favour.

Form: 64-0136

Non-Runners

Paricolor⁷²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Madaket (13/8), Moonlight Artist (3/1), Rare Clouds (5/1), Sporty Jim (11/2), Paricolor (7/1), Faded Fantasy (9/1), Burrows Park (16/1)

The way MADAKET finished over 21f at Kempton last month strongly suggests this step back up in trip is well worth exploring and he gets the vote in a competitive handicap now tried in cheekpieces. Sporty Jim could be the danger.