Edinburgh Gin Seaside Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 4m 1.50s

Bel Amigo^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 117

13/2

Fairly useful chaser/hurdler in France who has found his feet for current yard, completing a hat-trick in a thin novice at Carlisle (19.3f, good) 26 days ago. Has to be respected back in handicap company.

Form: 1/3P111-

Kinbara Firstdraft⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 116| CD

9/1

Winner at Ayr in November and produced a career best when 6 lengths second of 8 to Timmy Tuesday in handicap hurdle (9/1) at Down Royal (20f, good) 59 days ago. That performance is backed up by the timefigure, so he could go well again from a 5 lb higher mark.

Form: 861642-

Evaluation^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113| D

5/2

Useful stayer on the Flat who made a seamless transition to hurdling when landing 2m novice at Ayr in November. Underwhelming next 2 starts but resumed his progress when an eye-catching second at Kelso last month, finishing with running left. More to come and of strong interest on handicap bow.

Form: 1652-

Mack The Man^v²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 107| CD

20/1

Veteran C&D winner who was below form in first-time cheekpieces when only eighth of 14 in C&D handicap (soft) 21 days ago. Visor back on.

Form: 40P3P8-

Just Dottie²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: R M Smith| OR: 105| CD

2/1

Proved better than ever as he notched a third C&D success in emphatic style in 15-runner handicap (soft, 10/1) 21 days ago. Hit with 9 lb rise but no surprise to see another bold bid with the Champion Jockey Sean Bowen back up.

Form: 5/13661-

Simple Star²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 103| CD

10/1

C&D winner who had run well on the Flat recently but failed to build on that promise when only ninth of 14 in C&D handicap (soft) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 2008/19-

Cuban Cigar^b,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 100| D

11/2

Fifteen runs since last win in 2023 but wasn't seen to best effect when seventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft, 6/1) 21 days ago, left with too much to do. Blinkers back on. Not taken lightly.

Form: 748747-

Forecasts

Just Dottie (2/1), Evaluation (5/2), Cuban Cigar (11/2), Bel Amigo (13/2), Kinbara Firstdraft (9/1), Simple Star (10/1), Mack The Man (20/1)

EVALUATION finished with striking purpose having found himself well out of his ground at Kelso last month and looks ready to get much nearer to his Flat merit in this sphere on that evidence, so he makes plenty of appeal contesting his first handicap over hurdles. Bel Amigo is on a roll and merits respect back in handicap company, as does recent wide-margin C&D winner Just Dottie.