Golf Membership On Sale Now Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 8.4s

Off To A Flyer^t³⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Richard Upton⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 113

3/1

Fairly useful when winning at Ayr (24.3f) back in April 2023 but has struggled to reach that level since, including over fences. Finished his campaign on a high, decisively winning a Huntingdon handicap hurdle (25f). Drops in trip but remains of interest if in the same form after 10 months off.

Form: 7PP5-51

Jackpot D'athou^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 110

7/1

Looked promising when scoring twice over hurdles last season but has been out of sorts since, including on chase debut last time out. Cheekpieces back on and drops into the lowest grade he's contested in handicaps. Merits consideration from his falling handicap mark.

Form: 10-386P

Jack Sprat^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr William Biddick| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 106

4/1

Won two hurdle races at Huntingdon last season and back in top form following a spell over fences when adding to his tally at Exeter in January. Below-form on next couple of starts but it would be no surprise to see him bounce back in an opening looking race.

Form: 524106

Iron Heart^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Abigail Voyce⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 99| D

14/1

Four-time hurdle winner (now 1 lb below latest winning mark). Struggled over fences in the autumn but shaped better back over hurdles (after 4 months off) when fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f, good) 11 days ago. Remains to be seen if he can build on that.

Form: 1P5564

Jack The Savage^p,t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Sean P O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: L Horsfall| OR: 98

11/2

Hit the frame for the sixth time in a row (returning from 12 weeks off) when creditable second of 9 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (19.6f, good to soft) in February. Should run his race again but could be vulnerable to a better handicapped one.

Form: 344242

Mairis Icon⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 93| C

9/4

Won a novice hurdle at this venue last season (15.2f) under more testing conditions. Likely needed first couple of outings this season and was unsuited when dropped back in trip here last time out. Not ruled out with this step up in distance expected to be much more to her liking.

Form: 415-666

Forecasts

Mairis Icon (9/4), Off To A Flyer (3/1), Jack Sprat (4/1), Jack The Savage (11/2), Jackpot D'athou (7/1), Iron Heart (14/1)

JACKPOT D'ATHOU has failed to live up to the promise of last season but is worth another chance from his falling handicap mark, the combination of a further drop in grade and reapplication of cheekpieces might be enough to get his head in front. Last-time-out winner Off To A Flyer would be a big danger if ready to roll after a 10-month absence back over a shorter trip, while Mairis Icon should be better suited by this stiffer test.