Racing To School Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 27.03s

Juan Bermudez^p,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Dylan Johnston| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 102| CD

6/5

Winner of back-to-back C&D novice events for Dan Skelton last June and, though largely disappointing since, he took a step back in the right direction returned to this course (2¾m, good) recently. Dropping back in trip shouldn't be an issue and he's of strong interest off the same mark.

Form: P0P85-3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Chief Black Robe¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Broughton| T: F Brennan| OR: 100

16/1

Winner of 4 of his half-a-dozen starts over fences for Fergal O'Brien in 2023, but took record in this sphere to 0-10 when safely held in Newton Abbot novice on recent yard debut. Entitled to come on for that (first run under Rules for 21 months), but others preferred all the same.

Form: 1423P/4

Market House^p,t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Alex Chadwick| T: James Owen| OR: 93| D

6/5

Maiden in Ireland for Barry Connell, but has proved a different proposition since joining the James Owen yard, winning 3 times on the Flat in recent months and opened hurdles account in good style at Fontwell (19f, good) last week. Big player under a penalty.

Form: 907-321

Snitterfield⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: J Coulson| OR: 91

50/1

No better than mid-field in bumpers/novice hurdles and didn't fare any better on handicap debut when last seen in April.

Form: 566658-

Grenardier^p1⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 90

9/1

Appeared to take a step forward when second in a 2m Ludlow novice in February, but has failed to build on that in a couple of handicaps since and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 6P6266-

Auba Me Yang^t1⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Lewis Stones| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 89

40/1

Ffos Las winner in February 2023 and got back on track when second in a 2½m Uttoxeter handicap in December. Has gone back into reverse since, though, offering little returned to Ffos Las on debut for new yard last month. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 9/PP28-0

Non-Runners

Outback Frontiers¹⁷¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 9

T: J G M O'Shea J: James Turner

Forecasts

Juan Bermudez (6/5), Market House (6/5), Grenardier (9/1), Chief Black Robe (16/1), Outback Frontiers (16/1), Auba Me Yang (40/1), Snitterfield (50/1)

The two that appeal most are JUAN BERMUDEZ and last week's decisive Fontwell winner Market House. The latter has done precious little wrong since joining the James Owen yard and will rightly be popular under a penalty, but Juan Bermudez is an appealing alternative at the forecast prices. He scored twice over C&D this time last year and returned to form off this reduced mark when third back here 17 days ago. Outback Frontiers, also a C&D winner last summer, will be a threat if bouncing back.