Paxtons No1 CaseIH Dealer Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 4m 7.22s

Fromheretoeternity^p,t²²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 116

25/1

A three-time 2m winner last term and in good form when last seen out in early summer, not seen to ideal effect when fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (2m). Yard took this 12 months ago and she can't be discounted on return.

Form: 1F4-325

Chase A Fortune^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: C Grant| OR: 115

9/2

Improved since fitted with cheekpieces, ending a losing run in 2m handicap at Wetherby in December and following it with an excellent second of 9 at Musselburgh (2m) 24 days ago. Up 2 lb but he's not taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 4-5F212

Celestial Reign^p,t¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 108| C

50/1

Got off the mark for his current yard over 2m4f here in May but his more recent form is less encouraging, tried in cheekpieces when a well-held fourth of 10 in 2m1f Cartmel novice in August. Needs this switch to handicaps to spark improvement.

Form: B4-124

Russian Virtue⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: D Thompson| OR: 107| CD

25/1

C&D scorer but winless since 2023 and he came in only sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) 58 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 334-246

Indian River²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 117

4/6

Shaped well in a pair of 1m4f maidens in Ireland for John Joseph Murphy and has taken extremely well to hurdling for his new yard, readily going 2-2 in 2m Wetherby juvenile last month. This improving son of Nathaniel is very much the one to beat now going handicapping.

Form: 11

Ghasham^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 102

13/2

It's now 11 runs since his last win in 2023 (for Ian Williams) but he wasn't discredited on the back of a wind op when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (18.6f, good) 30 days ago, not ideally placed. Cheekpieces go back on now and needs considering.

Form: 5-42634

Inca Prince^h⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 101| D

11/2

Won twice from the front at Musselburgh in 2022 but quite lightly raced since. Not disgraced under a patient ride when fourth in an 11-runner handicap at Kelso in October and could be closer to form here if returned to more positive tactics.

Form: 3552/64

Forecasts

Indian River (4/6), Chase A Fortune (9/2), Inca Prince (11/2), Ghasham (13/2), Fromheretoeternity (25/1), Russian Virtue (25/1), Celestial Reign (50/1)

INDIAN RIVER looks to have got in lightly for his handicap bow and is hard to oppose in his bid to go 3-3 in this sphere. Chase A Fortune arrives at the top of his game though and should ensure Adrian Keatley's improver doesn't have things all his own way, while Fromheretoeternity and Inca Prince need factoring in too.