Pertemps Network Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Winner of a pair of 2m Kempton handicaps this winter. Creditable fourth in a competitive race at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft) on penultimate start. Failed to feature in the County at Cheltenham but can do better back in slightly calmer waters now.

Likeable front-runner who opened his account for the season in a 4-runner Newcastle handicap (17f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago but it was a race with little depth and he's worth opposing off 5 lb higher faced with a more competitive scenario now.

Free-going sort early in his career but looked more professional when gaining handicap breakthrough at Huntingdon (2m, soft) in December. Good placed efforts at Kempton (second to Williethebuilder) and Sandown (Imperial Cup) since. Should go well again.

Three hurdle wins this season and went down only to 2 improvers in a 2m Stratford handicap (good to soft) last time. Likely to give another good account.

Has done very little wrong since switched to handicaps, including big-field win at Ascot (2m, good to soft) just before Christmas. Good second at Sandown next time and shaped as if still in form when remote fifth in valuable event at Newbury latest, fading on very testing ground. Key player.

Won 5 of his first 6 completed starts over hurdles. Improved again when narrowly denied in a C&D handicap (good to soft) in January but hasn't reproduced that level in 3 subsequent outings. First-time cheekpieces need to spark a revival.

Started the season with good runner-up efforts in 2m handicaps at Wetherby and Sandown (both soft) but 2 lesser efforts have followed, beaten 23½ lengths into third at Newbury last time.

Won back-to-back small-field novice hurdles on good/good to soft in November. Below that level in a pair of soft-ground handicaps since but could fare better now back under what are likely to be less testing conditions.

Got off the mark in 2m Chepstow novice in October and has advanced his form since sent handicapping, third of 8 over 21f at Kelso 5 weeks ago. Enters calculations back at 2m in a first-time tongue tie.

Reappearance fourth at Chepstow worked out well and he improved again to make a winning handicap debut at Exeter (17f, soft) in November. Found to have bled when pulled up in Ascot handicap won by Dance And Glance just before Christmas. Given time since.

French recruit who made it third time lucky for Donald McCain in 2m Catterick maiden hurdle on New Year's Day but has struggled in 2 handicaps since. First-time blinkers replace cheekpieces.