Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 4m 54.37s

Whatsupwithyou^b,t²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Elliott England⁽¹⁰⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 126| D

10/1

Veteran who made all at Ludlow (21f) in February and ended last season with a good second at Cheltenham (20.2f) in April. Lost all chance with a serious error when pulled up on return to action at latter-named venue 25 days ago and no surprise to see a better showing here.

Form: 03162-P

Bluegrass^p,t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 123

12/1

Developed a fine strike rate in handicaps and proved better than ever after another wind operation when making a successful reappearance in a 4-runner handicap at Southwell (15.8f) in October. Subsequent Newton Abbot run was a backward step 31 days ago and he'll need to leave that behind.

Form: P216-17

Ski Lodge³⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 115

5/2

Useful bumper winner who got off the mark at the second attempt in this sphere in 10-runner novice at Haydock (24.3f, soft) last December, jumping soundly and staying on well. Absent since but he brings a positive profile to handicaps and likely there's more to come.

Form: 221/71-

Scorpio Rising²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 113| D

5/6

Showed ability when third only start in bumpers and confirmed hurdles debut promise after 6 months off when landing 9-runner maiden hurdle at Perth (20.1f, heavy) 4 weeks ago. Highly likely there's more to come from this low-mileage 5-y-o now handicapping and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 33-1

Another Fine Mess^h²⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Bryan Carver| T: J Scott| OR: 105

8/1

Improved model during a light 2024/25 campaign, career best effort when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Warwick (2m, heavy) in February. Remains lightly raced on the back of just 5 hurdle starts and respected from 5 lb higher mark back from 9 months off. Up in trip.

Form: 476/4F1-

Non-Runners

Yellow Star¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: G & J Moore J: Caoilin Quinn

Forecasts

Scorpio Rising (5/6), Ski Lodge (5/2), Yellow Star (6/1), Another Fine Mess (8/1), Whatsupwithyou (10/1), Bluegrass (12/1)

SCORPIO RISING confirmed the promise of his hurdles debut third back in the spring when readily opening his account at Perth in October and, appealing as the type to rate higher still now handicapping for his excellent stable, he's fancied to make another bold bid. Ski Lodge has an absence to overcome but boasts a very similar profile to the selection and may well emerge as the chief danger, ahead of Warwick scorer Another Fine Mess.