Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:44 | Winning time: 6m 26.53s

Paddy De Pole^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118

15/8

Lightly-raced sort who has improved plenty in handicaps in recent months, defying another small rise in the weights when bringing up the hat-trick at Hereford (19.7f) 4 weeks ago. Handicapper applies further pressure but he's a big player once more.

Form: 57511-1

Sea The Clouds^t²³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: William Featherstone⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 117| BF

12/1

Landed back-to-back handicap hurdles at Worcester/Warwick last summer without looking entirely straightforward. Disappointing display when last of 6 on final outing at Wetherby (3m) in October and whilst absent since, he has gone well fresh previously. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 462116-

Earth King^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 112| CD

2/1

Went the wrong way over fences last season but his mark tumbled as a result and he capitalised returned to timber (also fitted with cheekpieces) when winning 5-runner C&D handicap 4 weeks ago. That wasn't a wholly convincing display but possibilities with a repeat.

Form: 535PP-1

Thirtyfour Thirty^v1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Hosie| OR: 108| C

3/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who found some improvement over hurdles when successful here (17.7f) in December. Not in same form next 2 starts but firmly back on track of late, again finding only one too good at Warwick (26f) 13 days ago. Visor replaces cheekpieces now and he's of interest.

Form: 4166-22

Presenting Yeats^p²⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: R G Hawker| OR: 105| D

50/1

Temperamental sort who ran well below his best on the back of some very slow starts towards the end of last summer (often reluctant). Mark has eased ahead of return/yard debut and he's capable of playing a part if putting his best foot forward.

Form: F44346-

Kitesurfer¹²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 102

11/1

Won juvenile hurdle on his only race in France back in May 2022 and produced best effort so far on these shores when fourth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (2½m, heavy) in November. Disappointed twice thereafter, latterly on back of a wind op at Kempton in February.

Form: 14/74P9-

Forecasts

Paddy De Pole (15/8), Earth King (2/1), Thirtyfour Thirty (3/1), Kitesurfer (11/1), Sea The Clouds (12/1), Presenting Yeats (50/1)

PADDY DE POLE made little fuss of bringing up a hat-trick of handicap hurdle victories at Hereford 4 weeks ago and, still unexposed at this sort of trip, he could well be up to defying the handicapper again and completing the 4-timer. Thirtyfour Thirty rates the chief threat ahead of Earth King.