Border Minstrel New Menu Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 5m 3.07s

Fingal's Hill^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: P Atkinson| OR: 130| CD

7/2

In cracking form last spring, including a win in this race. Another good effort here when runner-up over 2m on good to soft 17 days ago. Should go well again.

Form: 2-11252

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Rare Edition^h1⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 126

5/1

Good second to the hugely progressive Thistle Ask over fences on his reappearance in October but hasn't reproduced that form in his 3 outings since, including back hurdling in January. A first-time hood replaces the cheekpieces he wore last time.

Form: 4F-24P7

Lawrenny¹³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 126| C

9/1

Took well to hurdling last season (won twice over 2m) but pulled up on Bangor reappearance in November and hasn't been seen since. Hard to know what to expect.

Form: 51221-P

Smokeringinthedark⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 118| D

7/4

Returned to form when second of 9 in handicap at Musselburgh (good to soft) on New Year's Day. Possibly unsuited by heavy ground when pulled up at Doncaster since. Player on the Musselburgh form.

Form: 43-2725

Haarar¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 118

8/1

Better than ever when following his Haydock success in December with an emphatic victory in 11-runner Carlisle handicap in February but he's struggled off higher marks twice since.

Form: 231140

Bold Light³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Power⁽⁵⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 118| D

5/1

Enjoyed a productive 2024/25 campaign when a three-time scorer over hurdles. Has yet to fire this season but is well handicapped if recapturing his best form.

Form: 6484U4

Non-Runners

Great Pepper⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: James Moffatt J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Smokeringinthedark (7/4), Fingal's Hill (7/2), Bold Light (5/1), Rare Edition (5/1), Great Pepper (6/1), Haarar (8/1), Lawrenny (9/1)

In a contest where few arrive with compelling claims perhaps FINGAL'S HILL can land this race for the second-year running. Smokeringinthedark had heavy ground as a possible excuse at Doncaster last time and might provide the main threat. Bold Light is on a good mark if bouncing back to form.