Marsh Commercial Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:28 | Winning time: 6m 2.60s

Kazontherazz¹⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 104

5/1

Placed 3 times in handicap hurdles last winter. Well below par in 2 outings in the summer but on a competitive mark if staging a revival back from a 107-day break.

Form: 4323-00

Bits N Pieces²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 100

15/2

Well held sole outing in bumpers but took a step forward from hurdling debut in spite of 3f shorter trip when second in 6-runner novice at Hereford (16.2f, good) 22 days ago. Much longer trip seems sure to suit making a quick switch to handicaps and he's interesting.

Form: 942

Despereaux^p1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Freddie Gingell| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 97

16/5

Beaten a long way when third at Worcester in October and ran badly in a refitted tongue strap at Chepstow since. First-time cheekpieces/step up in trip need to have a positive effect.

Form: 348-830

Galway Reel^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Bromley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90

9/2

Modest maiden hurdler who ran no more than respectably in first-time cheekpieces when third of 10 in handicap at Fakenham (20f, good, 12/1) 35 days ago. Eased 1 lb.

Form: 558693

The Midwife²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Joe Anderson| T: G Harris| OR: 84| D

15/8

On a good mark and returned to form when third of 17 in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f, good to soft, 15/2) 28 days ago. Likely to be bang there with a repeat.

Form: 68-5753

Extra Cover³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Alice Stevens| T: H D Daly| OR: 81

14/1

Hasn't offered much in a bumper/trio of starts over hurdles but may show more now tackling a low-grade handicap over an appreciably longer trip.

Form: 488-9

Elfride^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 72

22/1

Poor handicap hurdler who probably needed the run after 5 months off when eighth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f, good to soft) 28 days ago. 6 lb out of the weights.

Form: 5P7-768

Forecasts

The Midwife (15/8), Despereaux (16/5), Galway Reel (9/2), Kazontherazz (5/1), Bits N Pieces (15/2), Extra Cover (14/1), Elfride (22/1)

BITS N PIECES can do much better over this longer trip and he's taken to make a successful early switch to handicaps. The Midwife is sure to be on the premises if backing up her latest effort, with Kazontherazz dangerous to dismiss if staging a revival back from a break.