Eileen And Mary Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 5m 52.89s

Magical Arthur^t,v³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 108| D

9/2

In excellent heart at the end of last year, recording 3 wins and 3 runner-up finishes in 6 six starts but run of form came to grinding halt when pulled up at Fakenham on New Year's Day. Had a pipe-opener over an inadequate trip on reappearance last month and could bounce back with visor refitted.

Form: 2112P-0

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Manowest²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 105| D

5/2

Looked awkward under pressure on penultimate start but proved more straightforward with Sean Bowen back aboard latest, showing improved form over longer trip (after 4 months off) when winning a weak Worcester novice hurdle (23f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Should go well again.

Form: 30447-1

Tzarmix^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 102

7/2

Fair handicap hurdler for Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill but was pulled up in hunter chase at Cheltenham on debut for new connections prior to running below form back over hurdles at Stratford (22f) when finishing a well held sixth of 15 in a handicap 2 weeks ago. More needed back up in trip.

Form: 5351-P6

Lelantos^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 98| D

17/2

4-time hurdle winner (latest in August 2023) and shaped as though retaining some ability following an 18-month absence when a well beaten third at Fontwell (21.8f) last month, plugged on. Will need to raise his game back over a longer trip.

Form: 321U7/3

Captain's Pick^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 94

16/1

Justified significantly shorter odds when getting off the mark at Perth (23.9f, good to firm) in July having been suited by a markedly longer trip but failed to back that in 2 runs since, the latest following 11 months off when offering little at Worcester (pulled-up) 7 days ago. Something to prove.

Form: 8/5717-P

Big Bee Hive^b,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 93

11/4

3-time chase winner last year and bounced back to form to capitalise on lower hurdles mark when winning a 13-runner handicap hurdle with something to spare at Southwell (24.3f) 11 days ago. Solid claims if in similar form here.

Form: P454-71

Forecasts

Manowest (5/2), Big Bee Hive (11/4), Tzarmix (7/2), Magical Arthur (9/2), Lelantos (17/2), Captain's Pick (16/1)

BIG BEE HIVE posted his best effort to date over hurdles when winning with something to spare at Southwell 11 days ago and this looks a fair opportunity to follow up that victory. Manowest got off the mark over a similar trip at Worcester last time and should be in the mix again under Sean Bowen, while Magical Arthur could bounce back to form refitted with a visor following a pipe-opener last month.