Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 3m 56.50s

Max Of Stars²²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 105| D

4/1

Took very well to hurdling in 2023/24 winning 4 times, and back to that sort of form when second at Fakenham a year ago. Disappointing in both codes since and doesn't look totally straightforward these days.

Form: 7/24664-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Zucayan^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 104| D

3/1

Enhanced excellent Ludlow record and better than ever in the process when winning 8-runner handicap 3 weeks ago, proving 3½ lengths too good for Wasthatok. 5 lb rise won't prevent bold follow-up bid.

Form: 63326-1

Zafaan⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: Charlie Clover| OR: 103

22/1

Modest handicapper on Flat (stays 1m) who very much exceeded expectations when third of 13 over C&D on hurdles/stable. Expensive to follow in both disciplines since but this is his handicap debut over hurdles.

Form: 335-

Wasthatok^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Liam Harrison| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 102

15/8

Yet to really recapture the form he showed in Ireland but much more like it when second of 8 to Zucayan 3 weeks ago. Weighted to just about reverse form with that rival.

Form: 6/8635-2

Zenato^t⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 102| D

5/1

Winner on Flat at Nottingham (1¼m) for Ed Dunlop in October and upped his game when making fourth hurdles start a winning one at Fakenham in April. One to consider back in a handicap.

Form: 3441-

Play Pretend¹⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 100

8/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning hurdles debut a year ago. Excellent third at Wetherby (2m) in October before suffering a brace of heavy defeats to end the year. May bounce back returned from a break switched to a handicap.

Form: 1F353-

Knight Of Magic^h,t¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 88

66/1

Maiden on the Flat and hasn't made much impact in 5 starts over hurdles so far.

Form: 0/P8560-

Forecasts

Wasthatok (15/8), Zucayan (3/1), Max Of Stars (4/1), Zenato (5/1), Play Pretend (8/1), Zafaan (22/1), Knight Of Magic (66/1)

WASTHATOK bounced back to form when second to Zucayan at Ludlow 3 weeks ago and from 5 lb better terms, he can turn the tables this time. Zenato and Play Pretend are others to consider.