Chris Wills Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:18 | Winning time: 5m 9.80s

Paddy De Pole^p²⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115

12/1

Rattled off a quick-fire hat-trick in handicap hurdles this time last year and largely held form well from inflated mark thereafter, 5 lengths second of 3 in handicap at this course (26.5f) in September. Respected back from 8 months off.

Form: 1/13332-

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Bagheera Ginge^p²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 115| CD

14/1

Dual novice hurdles winner (including over C&D) who opened his chase account at Warwick (20f) in autumn of 2023. Exploits mixed in that sphere during second half of last year but returns to hurdling from a reduced mark and he has plenty of solid efforts to his name around here. Interesting.

Form: 2PP257-

Escapologist^p1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 115

2/1

Off the mark at Fakenham (2½m, good to soft) in January and good second in a novice over the same C&D a month later. However, yet to scale same heights in pair of handicaps, his mark appearing a stumbling block at Haydock latest. Drop in class can help with cheekpieces now reached for.

Form: 31224-9

Striking A Pose^b¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Gingell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 114

15/2

Dual Exeter winner in the mud early last year and made most of a good opportunity having eased in the weights when bagging 3-runner handicap hurdle at Warwick (25f) 18 days ago. All out on that occasion though, and this undoubtedly demands more.

Form: P5634-1

Teorie²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Robbie David⁽⁷⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 113

9/2

Fair hurdles winner who has bounced back to form following a yard switch, catching the eye with how he finished when sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (20f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Return to this longer trip a definite plus on that evidence and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 03/P52-6

Al Sayah^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 107| CD

5/2

5-y-o mare who has resumed her progress since returning from a break, runner-up at Exeter prior to going one place better in 8-runner C&D handicap 3 weeks ago. 6 lb rise for that looks fair and she's another worthy of consideration with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 54/112-1

Borderline^h,t²⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 88WS

9/1

Still a maiden and having got back on track when third in handicap hurdle at Stratford (22f) in July, he failed to build on that thereafter, in process of running below form when falling 2 out at Worcester in September. Had wind surgery ahead of return and the betting may prove a useful guide.

Form: 8/6U36F-

Forecasts

Escapologist (2/1), Al Sayah (5/2), Teorie (9/2), Striking A Pose (15/2), Borderline (9/1), Paddy De Pole (12/1), Bagheera Ginge (14/1)

A host arrive with claims and it could be worth chancing the returning BAGHEERA GINGE. His exploits over fences during the second half of last year proved mixed but he returns to timber operating from a handy mark and, with plenty of solid efforts to his name around here (C&D winner) it would come as no surprise to see a bold showing. Recent C&D winner Al Sayah is steadily going the right way and feared. Teorie and Paddy De Pole complete the shortlist.