Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 7m 7.3s

Grove Road^b²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 112

16/1

Looked a promising stayer in the making when winning a brace of novice hurdles in late 2022. However, hasn't kicked on since and while he's now 10 lb below the mark off which he was well held in this sphere at Ludlow in January (otherwise campaigned over fences this season), he is hard to warm to.

Form: 3P5366

Wild Side Of Life¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: H Cobden| T: L Morgan| OR: 111| BF| D

15/8

Easily opened his account in Irish points at third attempt last spring and runner-up on 2 of his 3 completed starts in novice hurdles, most recently at Sedgefield (19.8f, soft) on Boxing Day. Booking of Harry Cobden and step up in trip are both big plus points for this handicap debutant.

Form: 331-2U2

Barricane^p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Lewis Saunders⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 109

10/1

Back to form when scoring at Uttoxeter in December and posted a career-best when striking again over 25f at Huntingdon on his penultimate start, despite racing lazily. Bad mistake at the third-last did for him at Catterick last time but could be a factor here if avoiding such mishaps.

Form: 051413

Hostile Hotelier^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 108| C

6/1

Made a winning handicap debut over hurdles at Hexham in November. Doubled his tally back in this sphere with a tongue strap added (retained) over 20.4f on heavy going here recently and a 4 lb rise looks manageable.

Form: 417221

Faded Fantasy^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 101| C

7/1

Opened his account in a 20.4f maiden here last summer, but hasn't made much of an impact in handicaps since and looked a non-stayer tried over a similar trip to this at Wincanton last time.

Form: 1P7534

Innisfree Lass^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 96| CD

2/1

Looked an improved model in first-time cheekpieces when landing a 6-runner C&D mares' handicap in February. Went down narrowly in follow-up bid back here (heavy) 17 days ago, for which a 4 lb rise is fair, and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 644-P12

Forecasts

Wild Side Of Life (15/8), Innisfree Lass (2/1), Hostile Hotelier (6/1), Faded Fantasy (7/1), Barricane (10/1), Grove Road (16/1)

With improvement likely now upped in trip for this handicap debut, WILD SIDE OF LIFE makes plenty of appeal with Harry Cobden in the hot-seat. The 6-y-o has found just one too good on both completed starts in this sphere and his opening mark looks plausible. The mare Innisfree Lass has left her previous form well behind equipped with cheekpieces over this C&D the last twice and she is greatly respected, while Hostile Hotelier is also another strong candidate.