Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap Hurdle

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 127| BF

Multiple novice hurdle winner last term and no great surprise that he returns to this sphere having disappointed in a handicap chase on third try over fences at Ayr earlier this month. This will be his first run in a handicap over hurdles and he has to enter calculations.

Form: P41-435

Kalium⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Davies| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 125| C

Irish bumper winner who struck 3 times over hurdles last season. Reappearance third at Doncaster (19.4f, soft) was respectable and, likely to strip fitter this time, he's not without an each-way chance.

Form: 21151-3

John Barbour^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| D

Has raised his game this season after undergoing a wind op last summer, adding to his tally when keeping on well to land a soft-ground 2½m Uttoxeter handicap on New Year's Eve. 3 lb nudge by no means prohibitive and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 20-4121

Baratablet³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: N G Richards| OR: 120| BF| D

Progressed again when landing a 13-runner Newcastle handicap (20.3f, good to soft) in good style on his seasonal reappearance last month. The race may have come too soon when failing to land the odds at Kelso 18 days later and this 6-y-o may well get back on track here.

Form: 2131-14

Kingston Narcissus^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 117| D

Opened his account in Sedgefield maiden hurdle last term and, fitted with a first-time tongue strap, he found some improvement when bagging a handicap at the same course (19.8f, good to soft) last time. Likely to run his race once again but more will be needed now 5 lb higher in a tougher race.

Form: 21F-331

Jericoacoara⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 110

French import who has dropped 12 lb in the weights since making debut for present connections last February and shaped as though working his way back to form when fifth of 9 here (21.2f, soft) in November. Needs considering.

Form: 7430-05

North Parade⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 105| D

Losing run mounting up and while he would have a serious chance off this reduced mark if he were to put his best foot forward, he probably needs a stiffer test than this nowadays.

Form: 847-844

Non-Runners

Lord Of All Saints⁵¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: H Dickin J: Non Runner

Forecasts

John Barbour (5/2), Baratablet (3/1), Kingston Narcissus (6/1), Kalium (6/1), Junker D'allier (7/1), Jericoacoara (10/1), North Parade (10/1), Lord Of All Saints (20/1)

It could be worth chancing JERICOACOARA, who produced his best effort yet on these shores when fifth here on his latest start in November. The 7-y-o would've finished closer but for a final-flight mistake and he has dipped to an attractive mark. Baratablet misfired last time but remains of interest in view of his earlier promise and rates the main danger, while John Barbour and top-weight Junker d'Allier also merit respect.