Mrs. Pamela Ann Dobbs Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 5m 15.24s

American Sniper^b,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 117

9/4

Returned to form when runner-up at Taunton (19f) in December. Fared best of the pacesetters back there the following month and while he was a bit disappointing back from a break at Hereford 3 weeks ago, he represents a yard in excellent order.

Form: 6/0324-5

Byzantium^h,t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 112| CD

11/4

Landed wins at Warwick and Newton Abbot last summer but proved way too free returning from a further 5 months off at Ludlow in March. Settled better and still every chance when running out at Wincanton last month and he has the same mark here.

Form: 61144R-

Ellerton¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 105| C

11/8

Fairly useful on the Flat and an improver over hurdles upon joining Joe Tizzard, well prepared following 6 months off when landing a 17f handicap here 2 weeks ago. Should stay this far at a venue like this and 5 lb rise looks within range.

Form: 6471/6-1

Chillhi^b,t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Pritchard| T: B J Murphy| OR: 100

25/1

Won twice over hurdles for James Owen in the first half of last season but hasn't offered much in 5 outings since leaving that stable.

Form: 41357-0

Sam's Amour²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 95| D

14/1

Successful 3 times over hurdles in 2024 but lightly raced and much more miss than hit since.

Form: 85P66-P

Non-Runners

Impecunious¹⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: I Chanin J: Bryan Carver

Forecasts

Ellerton (11/8), American Sniper (9/4), Byzantium (11/4), Impecunious (13/2), Sam's Amour (14/1), Chillhi (25/1)

The David Pipe and Rian Corcoran partnership has been a fruitful one of late so AMERICAN SNIPER could easily bounce back eased slightly in class. Ellerton has made an excellent start to life with Joe Tizzard and is the obvious threat, with Byzantium also of interest.