Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 6m 9.20s

Billy Boi Blue^t,p¹³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Slatter⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 125| D

28/1

A fairly useful 3m winning hurdler but only seventh in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen last May. Well below par on his second run over fences when third of 4 at Huntingdon in November and lots to prove after another break.

Form: 3P51-73

Stone's Throw²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C Gethings| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 121| CD

11/2

Scored at Southwell and progressed again when following up over C&D later in December. Only seventh in 3m Chepstow handicap 20 days ago but he's the sort to get back on track.

Form: 61-P117

El Galactico⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 121

7/2

Winner of small-field novice hurdles at Uttoxeter in June and Plumpton in November. Not discredited on his first go in handicaps when fifth of 12 at Ascot 84 days ago. May still do better after a break.

Form: 2115

Jakar Du Moulin^t⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115| D

11/4

Point winner who built on earlier promise to get off the mark in 3m Ascot handicap in December. Up 5 lb but showed a good attitude there so he's a player with few miles still on the clock.

Form: 1/24U-51

I Am Max²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P W Wadge| T: A M Thomson| OR: 115

7/1

Made a winning chasing debut at Hexham in October but has failed to kick on, making mistakes when fifth of 6 at Kelso last month. Not discounted off a handy-looking mark reverted to hurdles with yard going well though.

Form: 4-10455

High Dancer⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 114| BF| D

9/2

Opened his account at Haydock last March. Improved when second here in November but not at his best when 11th in handicap hurdle back at Haydock since. The sort to bounce back though.

Form: B12-420

Breezethroughlife^t⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 112

11/2

Made a successful start for Neil King in Fakenham maiden hurdle in October. Hit or miss since though, pulled up in Taunton handicap in January. Others are preferred.

Form: P-3152P

Forecasts

Jakar Du Moulin (11/4), El Galactico (7/2), High Dancer (9/2), Stone's Throw (11/2), Breezethroughlife (11/2), I Am Max (7/1), Billy Boi Blue (28/1)

It could pay to side with Paul Nicholls' Ascot scorer JAKAR DU MOULIN who showed a willing attitude there and can defy a 5 lb weights rise with few miles still on the clock. I Am Max has failed to kick on sent chasing this term but could emerge as the main danger back hurdling off a lenient-looking mark. El Galactico, High Dancer and Stone's Throw can't be dismissed either in a very open contest.