Klargester Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 16.60s

Spirits Bay¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 118| CD

2/1

Useful dual bumper winner last season who showed promise on first 2 hurdle starts before making the most of a good opportunity over C&D 14 days ago. His opening handicap mark looks very workable.

Form: 131-2F1

Donnacha²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 117

15/8

Winner of Chepstow novice and Warwick handicap (both 2m, soft) this season. Only mid-field in last month's Betfair Hurdle but offered enough to think he's still in form and respected back in calmer waters.

Form: 3-12310

Vernon Subutex^p,t⁶⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 116| D

50/1

Multiple winner in France who hasn't been seen since making a successful British debut for the David Pipe stable in a 22.5f Stratford handicap chase in May 2022. Betting perhaps the best guide on return for Sophie Leech.

Form: 2715U/1-

Moorefields³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down| OR: 111| C

4/1

Built on debut promise when landing 16-runner 18.5f course maiden hurdle (heavy) on New Year's Day. Found out when faced with a sharper test at Taunton since but retains potential now handicapping back here.

Form: 344-413

Hard Rain²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 110| D

66/1

Won a Limerick handicap hurdle last summer. Placed over hurdles and fences in Ireland subsequently but well below par when last of 6 on his stable debut at Sandown 3 weeks ago.

Form: P23206

Heure De Gloire^b,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 108| D

9/1

Back to winning ways in 2m Ffos Las mares' handicap at the beginning of February but hasn't reproduced that level in her 2 outings since, beaten 11 lengths when third of 4 finishers over C&D a fortnight ago.

Form: 764173

Koenigsstern²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 106

8/1

Dual winning pointer who has shown promise when reaching the frame on all 4 starts over hurdles this winter, showing he can be competitive in handicaps when third at Warwick on penultimate start.

Form: 1F-4433

Forecasts

Donnacha (15/8), Spirits Bay (2/1), Moorefields (4/1), Koenigsstern (8/1), Heure De Gloire (9/1), Vernon Subutex (50/1), Hard Rain (66/1)

Although SPIRITS BAY wasn't that impressive when landing short odds in a C&D novice a fortnight ago the form of his first 2 efforts over hurdles suggest an opening mark of 118 could underestimate him. Donnacha should find this easier than last month's Betfair Hurdle and is second choice ahead of Koenigsstern.