LiveScore Bet Handicap Hurdle

Veteran has returned from his summer break in good heart, not seen to best effect when fifth at Kelso (20.9f) and ran well back up in trip when third in a 7-runner C&D handicap in December. May not have been 100% back here in New Year's Day but below last winning mark if all is well.

Bought for £30,000 after finishing runner-up on completed start in Irish points and looks to be being brought along gradually over hurdles, again not knocked about at Taunton fitted with a tongue tie in December (19f). Likely improver now allotted a mark and upped in trip.

Quickly returned to hurdles following another unsuccessful attempt over fences during the summer and made it 5-25 in this sphere when landing an 8-runner handicap at Huntingdon (25f, soft) in November. Wasn't seen to best effect at Fakenham 4 weeks ago.

Out-and-out stayer who went close twice at Kelso at the start of the season and wasn't winning out of turn when seeing off 9 rivals at Hexham in November. Well-backed but never travelling back there a month later and again didn't go with much zest at Wetherby.

Long-standing maiden under Rules but placed on 3 of last 4 starts (twice over fences), most recently when a keeping-on third over C&D on New Year's Day. Can remain competitive.

Much more like it when landing a pair of 3m handicaps in spring 2024. Stood little racing since but a brace of in-frame efforts in recent months confirm she's back in good order. Tongue strap on for the first time.

Placed twice at Catterick around the turn of the year. Soft ground perhaps an issue when failing badly to continue the good work at that track 16 days ago.