European Heathyards 50th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:29 | Winning time: 4m 54.10s

Fourtowns^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 105| BF

5/2

Good fourth of 14 on handicap debut here (15.8f, good to soft) following a wind op last month. Compromised his chance by jumping markedly left at Hereford recently and needs considering for in-form yard returned to this left-hand track.

Form: 33-5F45

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Present Fair¹⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102| C

18/1

Brushed off a disappointing run over fences when winning 2m handicap back in this sphere at this course last December. Followed that with a string of below-par efforts but back on track when third of 13 following a wind op at Worcester (2½m, good) in June and he's one to consider.

Form: 146P8-3

Court Cian²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 98

9/4

Given a considerate return from a 4-month break back hurdling for his first outing since leaving M. Kehoe when fifth of 11 in novice at Bangor in September. Subsequent handicap debut fourth off this mark at Southwell (20.4f, good) was creditable and he's certainly not without hope.

Form: 311-F54

Johannes²³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D Pipe| OR: 94

9/1

Fair 2m winner on the Flat in France and stepped up considerably on previous hurdling efforts upped in trip when making all on handicap debut at Taunton (19f, heavy) in February. However, he ran no sort of a race the following month at Wincanton and is entitled to come on for the run.

Form: 6061P-

Emanate^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: James Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 88

5/1

Winner of back-to-back 2m handicaps at Worcester last summer. Bounced back from a heavy defeat on the Flat when third returned to this sphere at Wincanton (21.4f, good) and he's not discounted.

Form: 7-43273

Cuban Court^t¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Lily Pinchin| T: N B King| OR: 87

4/1

Bumper winner who took a step in the right direction on the back of a wind op when second on handicap debut in a big-field event at Doncaster in January. Hasn't come close to matching that form since but, having slipped to a dangerous mark, he has to enter calculations.

Form: P28-756

Primary Explosive¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 82

28/1

No show in 3 runs so far and huge step forward needed now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 7P5

Forecasts

Court Cian (9/4), Fourtowns (5/2), Cuban Court (4/1), Emanate (5/1), Johannes (9/1), Present Fair (18/1), Primary Explosive (28/1)

A chance is taken on CUBAN COURT, who has failed to build on his highly encouraging handicap debut second at Doncaster in four subsequent starts but he's now 7 lb below the mark off which he was runner-up in that race on Town Moor. Fourtowns should appreciate returning to this left-handed track and he could be the main danger. Emanate and Present Fair also have claims.