Barry Dennis Trophy Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 5f 164y | 4 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120| C

Back over hurdles, made a winning return at this course (19.1f) in October and ran well next 2 starts. However, run of good form halted when well held at Kempton (21f, good) on Boxing Day, so needs to get back on track with tongue strap now added.

Form: 22-1329

Il Va De Soi^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Megan Fox⁽⁷⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 117

6/1

Fairly useful hurdler at best, but after 3 starts over fences this season he ran below form back hurdling when twelfth of 18 in handicap at Ascot (23.6f, good to soft) 8 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 84-3FP0

Livingit Du Large⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 114WS

7/2

Built on debut promise when landing the odds in junior hurdle at Chepstow last season. Found things tougher in a Ffos Las novice on return, before running too badly to be true when pulled up at Leicester last time. Could bounce back having had wind op ahead of handicap bow.

Form: 31-3P

Bollin Thou^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: Nick Scholfield| OR: 109

1/2

Has been thriving in handicaps for current yard this season, overcoming a 13 lb rise in the weights when landing the 4-timer at Sandown (19.8f, soft) 22 days ago. Not taken lightly, though did look to have a hard enough race last time under testing conditions.

Form: P41111

Forecasts

Bollin Thou (4/7), Livingit Du Large (4/1), Paso Doble (11/2), Il Va De Soi (10/1)

LIVINGIT DU LARGE hasn't kicked on in 2 starts this season, yet he should be suited by this longer trip and is worth another chance to build on the promise he showed last term as he goes handicapping. He is taken to see off the challenge of Bollin Thou, who is respected in his bid for a 5-timer, while Paso Doble needs to leave behind a lesser effort.