Luke And Michaela's 1st Wedding Anniversary Selling Hurdle

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 110

In frame at Uttoxeter on return but has pulled up all 3 starts since and essentially looks one with problems, weak finishes becoming a regular issue. Drops signficantly in trip here.

Form: 26-4PPP

Embittered^b,t¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 115| D

25/1

Won a claiming hurdle and handicap chase in Ireland for Eric McNamara last summer. Well held both starts in chases for current connections (badly out of depth at Cheltenham Festival last time) and others are preferred despite marked drop in grade.

Form: 19P27P

Hecouldbetheone^p⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: James Owen| OR: 117| D

3/1

Revitalised for current yard and he displayed a likeable attitude in landing back-to-back Uttoxeter handicap chases (at 21f) in June. Good second both starts in October but jumped horrendously when last seen at Leicester over Christmas. Player if putting best foot forward back hurdling, though.

Form: 132236

Junker D'allier^p1⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Hutsby⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 123

5/2

Multiple novice hurdle winner last term but has looked increasingly temperamental this season, failing to meet expectations all 3 starts over fences and pulling up returned to this sphere at Warwick last month. First-time cheekpieces need to work the oracle.

Form: 41-435P

Hara Kiri¹⁰⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 114| BF

9/4

Won 3 hurdle races in 2024 before a break. Finished a creditable third in Wetherby handicap on reappearance in November prior to finishing lame at Uttoxeter in December. Absent since but has strong claims down in grade.

Form: 11/12-36

Demoiselle Kap^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 116| D

4/1

Completed a 4-timer (2 hurdle, 2 chase) for this yard last spring. Respectable fifth in Ludlow handicap hurdle on reappearance in January but not in the same form when a remote third at Catterick after and shaped as if amiss back chasing at Leicester 3 weeks ago.

Form: 122-535

Forecasts

Junker D'allier (2/1), Hecouldbetheone (7/2), Demoiselle Kap (5/1), Embittered (5/1), Hara Kiri (6/1), Disco Davis (10/1)

A trappy seller, with the vote going to HARA KIRI, who confirmed he retains ability when a good third at Wetherby on return and had a viable excuse for a below-par display at Uttoxeter last time. Hecouldbetheone and Demoiselle Kap perhaps have fewer questions to answer than the remainder at present.