NE3 Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 4m 49.12s

Zanndabad^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: A J Martin| OR: 123

4/6

Useful Flat performer. Runner-up in a maiden at the Galway Festival on latest hurdle outing and was unlucky not to go closer when fourth in a competitive York handicap next time. Not in the same form at Leopardstown last month but he could yet to have more to offer as a handicap hurdler.

Form: 022/26-2

Dickens^h¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 116| BF

5/2

Made it 4 wins from five starts for new connections with a comfortable success in a selling handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot last month. Still in top form when runner-up over C&D earlier this month but faces a tougher task now upped in grade.

Form: 113112

Park Annonciade^t¹⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 116

13/2

Hasn't won since 2023 but ran right up to his best under a more positive ride on final start for Stuart Crawford (sold for £36,000) when runner-up at Perth in May and interesting to see if new connections adopt the same tactics in a race lacking pace. Leading contender if fully wound up on return.

Form: 33478-2

Klitschko^t¹⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Lucinda Hughes| OR: 114| C

14/1

Gained a first handicap success over hurdles when scoring at this track (16.8f) in March (form boosted by the runner-up) but typically failed to back that up at Perth the following month. Below form on chase debut when last seen but has claims if on a going day back over hurdles.

Form: 54410-5

Non-Runners

Harper Valley²⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: R Menzies J: Nathan Moscrop

Forecasts

Zanndabad (4/6), Dickens (5/2), Park Annonciade (13/2), Harper Valley (8/1), Klitschko (14/1)

A trappy handicap and none of the quintet can be ruled out definitively. C&D winner HARPER VALLEY is back below his winning mark and marginally get the vote having hinted at a revival when fourth at Perth last month. Park Annonciade was ridden more positively when right back to his best on final start of last season and could be dangerous if allowed to dictate on stable debut, while useful Flat performer Zanndabad may yet have more to offer as a handicap hurdler.