John Ellis Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 28.50s

Colours On Canvas^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: J & S Best| OR: 118| CD

1/1

Right back on the up when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 28 days ago, kept up to work. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 4-1821

Nordic Tiger^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 114

9/4

French import who is firmly on the up now and dug deep to score at Huntingdon a month ago. Return to this trip will suit and should put up a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 453311

Individualiste^b1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 113

6/1

Recorded a facile success eased in class/equipped with cheekpieces over hurdles at Taunton (19f) in December. However, that proved a weak race and he's been unable to match it, including over fences at Wincanton last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 45314P

Casa Loupi^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 111| C

14/1

Has run poorly all three completed starts back over hurdles and fell on chasing debut at Lingfield last month. Plenty to prove.

Form: 16/P40F

Ray's The One^t1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: M Goldstein| T: M Pattinson| OR: 94

11/1

Course winner but well held both starts this season. Up in trip and fitted with a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 3846-08

Non-Runners

On My Command³¹

Weight: 11-13| Age: 8

T: M Keighley J: Harry Atkins

Small Bad Bob¹⁰⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: C Gordon J: Freddie Gordon

Forecasts

Colours On Canvas (1/1), Nordic Tiger (9/4), Small Bad Bob (11/2), Individualiste (6/1), Ray's The One (11/1), Casa Loupi (14/1), On My Command (25/1)

NORDIC TIGER and Colours On Canvas are both going the right way but the former may be open to a bit more improvement, so he gets the marginal vote in a race that the pair could dominate. Small Bad Bob is another one to consider.