Mowden Park RFC Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 4m 57.07s

Shan't Wait⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 98

15/8

Improved on the back of a breathing operation when second of 9 in 2m Southwell handicap in December and backed that up when third at Market Rasen the following month. Should be suited by return to longer trip now and must enter the reckoning.

Form: 475-923

Saint Polo⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: I J Power| T: J Candlish| OR: 96

2/1

Not knocked about when well held in novice/maiden hurdles and appeals as a potential improver now sent handicapping up in trip.

Form: 5-67859

Klapton Boy¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 96WS

22/1

Placed in pair of 2½m Wetherby novice hurdles but could only manage sixth of 14 on Huntingdon handicap hurdle debut last spring. Has the background for chasing but offered little on his first try in that sphere at Market Rasen when last seen in November and has undergone a breathing operation since.

Form: 2/236-P

Swingforthefence^p1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 95

14/1

Made no impact in maiden/novice hurdles but could well raise his game now handicapping over further. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 3-797

Wind Your Neck In^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 92

6/1

Remains winless over hurdles (three-time Flat scorer) but this keen-going sort ran another fine race when second in 6-runner handicap at Catterick (19.3f, good to soft) on most recent outing, albeit seen to good effect.

Form: 444722

Star Vantage^t⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Maggs⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 87

17/2

Remains difficult to win with the way he is ridden (0-30, including 27 defeats over hurdles) but he's unlikely to be far away on the pick of his form back from a break.

Form: 2F6465

Dartmhor⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 75| BF

7/1

Poor maiden/novice form but he did at least make a better fist of things after 9 months off when third of 6 in a handicap here (21.2f, soft) in December, plugging on again from 2 out. Failed to repeat that effort at Newcastle next time, however.

Form: 688P-34

Forecasts

Shan't Wait (15/8), Saint Polo (2/1), Wind Your Neck In (6/1), Dartmhor (7/1), Star Vantage (17/2), Swingforthefence (14/1), Klapton Boy (22/1)

SHAN'T WAIT has run well on his last 2 outings, both of which are supported by the timefigure, so he's an appealing candidate now stepping back up to a trip which ought to suit. Star Vantage is a long-standing maiden but shouldn't be far away on the pick of his form, with Swingforthefence one of 2 interesting handicap debutants for Jennie Candlish.