Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 51.71s

Guard Duty^h²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 139

8/15

Three wins last season and has returned with solid placed efforts in handicaps at Newbury (I20/5f, good to soft) and Windsor (2½m, good) this winter. Likely to give another good account for last year's winning yard.

Form: 2119-23

Fingal's Hill^p²²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: P Atkinson| OR: 134| CD

10/1

C&D scorer who was in cracking form when winning 3 times between March and June last year. Has a career-high mark to contend back from 7 months off so the percentage call might be to look elsewhere.

Form: 3012-11

Glynn Brae⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| BF

5/2

Three maiden/novice hurdle wins last season and showed a willing attitude to land another win in 2½m Sandown handicap on reappearance in November. Disappointing back at Sandown since but his overall record suggests he's capable of bouncing back.

Form: 2115-15

Ginger Mail^p⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 121| C

12/1

Fortunate winner (3 lengths down when left in lead last) at Ayr (20.5f, soft) last January. Below par in his 4 outings since but has been cut some slack by the handicapper as a result.

Form: 51PP-64

Non-Runners

Dargiannini⁵⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 11

T: Harry Derham J: Paul O'Brien

Bowmore⁴¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: C E Longsdon J: Non Runner

Geromino²⁴

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

Smokeringinthedark²²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: N G Richards J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Guard Duty (8/15), Glynn Brae (5/2), Smokeringinthedark (11/4), Bowmore (5/1), Fingal's Hill (10/1), Geromino (10/1), Ginger Mail (12/1), Dargiannini (20/1)

GUARD DUTY's 2 placed efforts this season represent solid form and he's taken to provide Emma Lavelle with a second successive win in this race. Geromino landed this race 2 years ago and may provide the main threat on the back of an encouraging return from an absence at Haydock. Smokeringinthedark is next on the list.