Eddie Fullalove Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:14 | Winning time: 4m 30.30s

Songo^h²¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: R G Hawker| OR: 118| C

18/1

Fairly useful Flat performer who won a pair of novice hurdles at this course (both at 21.5f) under Harry Cobden last summer. Well held both subsequent outings and has been off 7 months/left Milton Harris since. However, no surprise to see him bounce back at this venue.

Form: U4/1173-

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Bashful Boy¹¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 115| C| D

2/1

Completed a cross-code hat-trick when scoring here (21.5f) last July and excellent fourth in the Cesarewitch on the Flat in the autumn. Below form over hurdles on his last 3 starts, but he's now back below his last winning mark. Would want the ground to dry out, though.

Form: 9P4604-

Master Dancer^p1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 110| D

7/2

Winning chaser in France who made a successful stable debut over hurdles in 2022/23. Without a win since, but he shaped encouragingly when third at Huntingdon (20.7f) in March. Not in the same form last time, but he's worth another chance with cheekpieces applied.

Form: P7/3436-

Mardoof^t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M Hunt| OR: 108

9/2

Dominant winner of a Taunton maiden hurdle (16.5f) in March 2023 but couldn't repeat that effort in a trio of handicaps last season. Fared no better back on the level at Chepstow 6 days ago, so he has something to prove at present.

Form: 213/P95-

Clearance²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: M Blake| OR: 108| C

17/2

Went through a good spell at this course last summer, winning 3 times (all at 16.8f) from 4 starts between June and August. Has struggled for form since, including on the Flat of late, but he's respected back here from only 1 lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 121134-

Greystoke⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 98| C

4/1

Opened hurdles account at this course (16.8f) in May 2022 and hit the target on the Flat last spring. Sent off huge odds but shaped quite nicely starting out for current yard at Taunton in February, though not in the same form at Huntingdon last time.

Form: 1426/55-

Penna Rossa^p,t1³⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 95

25/1

Off the mark in a Sandown juvenile in December 2022 but hasn't gone on from that effort, pulled up at Fontwell when last seen almost a year ago. Tongue strap applied as he makes first run for yard after leaving Camilla Poulton.

Form: 1P309/P-

Forecasts

Bashful Boy (2/1), Master Dancer (7/2), Greystoke (4/1), Mardoof (9/2), Clearance (17/2), Songo (18/1), Penna Rossa (25/1)

There were better signs from MASTER DANCER when third at Huntingdon in March, before he was unable to employ his usual positive tactics at Fontwell last month. He is taken to bounce back to winning ways in first-time cheekpieces, with Songo feared most as he returns to this course on his stable debut. Clearance is the pick of the remainder.