Smirnoff At Spy Bar Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 13.76s

Fingal's Hill^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: P Atkinson| OR: 131| CD

4/1

In cracking form when winning 3 times between March and June last year and looked better than ever after 7 months off when runner-up at Doncaster in January. Not in the same for at Kelso next time but eased 2 lb since and will have a chance if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 12-1125

Bucephalus^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 130

11/2

Likeable front-runner who ended last term on a high, recording back-to-back wins at Newbury and Chepstow. Pulled up in a major handicap back at Newbury last time but was a good second when sporting cheekpieces for the first time at Haydock on penultimate start and has claims on that evidence.

Form: 11-642P

The Hatchet²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Power⁽⁵⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 115

1/2

£105,000 purchase after finishing runner-up in an Irish point and made a winning start over hurdles at Perth in September. Failed to land a blow on handicap debut at the beginning of last month but back on track when second over this C&D 3 weeks ago and he's a strong candidate.

Form: 47-1362

Inedit D'amour^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112

12/1

French recruit who made it third time lucky for Donald McCain in 2m Catterick maiden hurdle on New Year's Day. However, struggled in a handicap over further at the same course next time and step forward needed here.

Form: 6F-3015

Non-Runners

Haarar³³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: S England J: Jonathan England

Smokeringinthedark³⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: N G Richards J: Non Runner

Forecasts

The Hatchet (1/2), Haarar (15/8), Fingal's Hill (4/1), Smokeringinthedark (5/1), Bucephalus (11/2), Inedit D'amour (12/1)

It's still early days for THE HATCHET and, having returned to form when finding just one too good over C&D last month, he gets the nod. Bucephalus will be a big threat if reproducing the form of his penultimate start and Fingal's Hill is another who will have a chance if able to shrug off a below-par last-time-out display.