Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 16.10s

Storming George⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 125| C

9/4

Useful in bumpers. Won novice hurdle impressively here in late November but proved a let down when tailed-off sixth of 6 in Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree (17/2) 41 days ago. Handicap debut and could be worth another chance up in trip.

Form: 15-316

I'm A Lumberjack^h³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 123

10/3

Won a novice hurdle last April and stepped forward from reappearance when second of 12 in handicap at Newbury (5/1) 38 days ago in first-time hood, travelling smoothly and challenging 2 out before unable to quicken late. On a fair mark and looks capable of resuming winning ways despite 3 lb rise.

Form: 1F31-52

Bluegrass^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 122

6/1

Won a thin handicap hurdle last October after a breathing operation but has been inconsistent since, most recently third of 10 at Taunton (28/1) 28 days ago staying on from off the pace. Second has won since but needs to build on that improved effort.

Form: 6-17383

Huffin An A Puffin⁶⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 120

3/1

Won on hurdling debut at Newbury nearly 2 years ago, overcoming greenness to get up on the line by a short-head. First run for new yard/handicap debut here following lengthy absence and open to improvement if fit enough.

Form: 1/

Smokeringinthedark³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley| T: N G Richards| OR: 119

9/2

Disappointed when favourite on soft ground at Wetherby on return from 7 months off in November but bounced back when second of 9 in handicap at Musselburgh (11/2) 35 days ago. That was a career-best and he remains lightly-raced.

Form: 143-272

Non-Runners

Geromino³⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 10

T: D McCain Jnr J: Charlie Maggs

Forecasts

Storming George (9/4), Huffin An A Puffin (3/1), I'm A Lumberjack (10/3), Smokeringinthedark (9/2), Bluegrass (6/1), Geromino (20/1)

I'M A LUMBERJACK appeals most despite a 3 lb rise, having travelled smoothly in his first-time hood at Newbury 38 days ago. He's on a fair mark and can take this, while Smokeringinthedark bounced back returned to better ground at Musselburgh last time and looks a danger. It's too soon to dismiss Storming George now switched to handicaps over a longer trip.