Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 4f 1y | 6 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁷⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 121| C

Matched best form (following another wind surgery) when landing a weak race at Southwell on reappearance. More miss than hit since, however, and this step back up in trip isn't sure to suit.

Form: 16-1738

Breezethroughlife^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 113| CD

Confirmed promise of Irish maiden hurdle debut when making successful start for Neil King in a weak C&D maiden in October. Ran poorly in a better race at Kempton next time but got immediately back on the up when second in 9-runner handicap at Doncaster (24.4f) 20 days ago. Player back down in trip.

Form: P-3152

Escapologist^v1²¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: James Owen| OR: 113| BF| CD

C&D winner who has been a bit disappointing since switched to handicaps, failing to justify support in first-time cheekpieces back down in grade at Newton Abbot (21.6f, good) when last seen in May. Bit to prove back from 7 months off in a first-time visor.

Form: 1224-94

Time Interval^v1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 108

Landed back-to-back handicaps hurdles at Stratford/Warwick in May and remained in form over summer. Unsuited by the increased test of stamina when well beaten on return at Cheltenham (21f, soft) but ran badly at Hereford last time and has something to prove fitted with a first-time visor.

Form: 123077

Hiconic^t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 107| D

More miss than hit over jumps in the summer but ran creditably back on the Flat after 4 months off at Wolverhampton recently and returns to this sphere on a handy mark. Not ruled out.

Form: 14-743P

Kelijoe²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 102

French bumper winner who got back on the up with the tongue strap swiftly dispensed with when keeping on gamely to land 9-runner handicap hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, soft) 21 days ago. Unlikely reached his ceiling yet.

Form: 2-82551

Forecasts

Kelijoe (7/4), Breezethroughlife (5/2), Escapologist (7/2), Bluegrass (8/1), Hiconic (12/1), Time Interval (14/1)

KELIJOE saw off a fellow improver in game fashion at Doncaster 3 weeks ago and has unlikely reached his ceiling yet, so he's taken to follow up for a yard which has an excellent record at this track. Hiconic showed better signs on the Flat recently and returns to this code on a handy mark, with the unexposed Breezethroughlife also feared back down in trip.