Paul Ferguson Jumpers To Follow Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 40.63s

Prince Imperial^t⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 128

8/1

Improved again to land a hat-trick at Warwick (19f) on reappearance but has found life tougher off his revised mark, well held at Uttoxeter (23.3f) in July although he was tasked with making the running in a race where only 3 hurdles were jumped. Could prove more competitive following a break.

Form: 111-246

Imperial Merlin^p⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 124

5/2

Back to winning ways at Haydock (24.3f) in March following a breathing operation. Typically not helped by his jumping on next couple of starts but better than ever in first-time cheekpieces when runner-up at Uttoxeter (23.3f), for all there were only 3 hurdles jumped. Claims if his jumping holds up.

Form: 2317-42

Matchless^p⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 120| D

11/2

Found his confidence again over the spring, winning back-to-back at Hexham/Southwell and confirmed his versatility trip-wise when landing the hat-trick returned to Hexham (23.3f) in June. Only beaten by a revitalised one at Perth the following month and arrives in fine heart now upped in grade.

Form: 43-1112

Doc McCoy^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 117

10/1

Landed a quickfire double in lesser company in May and ran even better in defeat when runner-up at Stratford the following month. Found his run of good form coming to a halt in a deeper race at Uttoxeter (19.9f) 42 days ago and will need to improve for this longer trip tackling better company.

Form: 1-21120

Lipa K^p⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 112| BF| C

7/1

Isn't the easiest to catch right, solid form when winning a 6-runner handicap at this course (19.6f) but proved a let-down over the same C&D in July, his finishing effort leaving plenty to be desired. Has been freshened up but remains with something to prove over the longest trip he's faced to date.

Form: 546-216

Supreme Yeats^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 111| D

5/1

Has proved better than ever in his second season with Dan Skelton, shaped well when runner-up in a pair of handicaps and improved to get off the mark for the season in a 12-runner handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f) 42 days ago. Going the right way and may well defy a rise in grade.

Form: B52-221

Halifax^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Ring| T: G Harris| OR: 109| CD

4/1

C&D winner was successful at Kempton (24.5f) in May last year and went close off the same mark on second start this season when runner-up at Market Rasen (23.1f) last month. Only 1 lb higher here and should give another good account.

Form: 3554-52

Forecasts

Imperial Merlin (5/2), Halifax (4/1), Supreme Yeats (5/1), Matchless (11/2), Lipa K (7/1), Prince Imperial (8/1), Doc McCoy (10/1)

SUPREME YATES is proving better than ever in his second season with Dan Skelton and may improve again to follow up his victory at Uttoxeter, while C&D winner Halifax is only 1 lb above his last winning mark and should give another good account having gone close at Market Rasen last month. Of the rest, Imperial Merlin posted a career-best when runner-up in first-time cheekpieces in July and could prove a danger if his jumping holds up under this greater test.