DU Construction Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 7f 32y | 5 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 122| BF| D

Successful twice at up to 3m in 2025 and showed the benefit of his Uttoxeter run when 1¾ lengths second of 6 to Kiwi De Cotte at Market Rasen 3 weeks ago. Was closing all the way to the line and there shouldn't be much between them again.

Form: 2166-42

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Roger Pol^b1,t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 121| D

15/2

Won a race that fell apart at Uttoxeter before completing a double under this conditional at Hexham in October. Hasn't returned in anything like the same form, potentially going the wrong way temperamentally. More severe headgear employed.

Form: 117-698

Secret Trix^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Hutsby⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 120| BF| D

11/4

Hasn't won for 2 years but arrives in very good heart, placed again in 7-runner handicap at Perth in July. Ideally needs a good test of stamina but seems sure to bang there again from an unchanged mark.

Form: 723-322

Kiwi De Cotte^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| D

2/1

Won both completed starts in points/shaped well in hunter chase on Rules debut. Belied market weakness to make a successful stable/hurdling debut at Market Rasen in June and benefited from fitting of cheekpieces when getting the better of Ernest Gray back there 3 weeks ago. Remains unexposed.

Form: P1-P131

Speed Davis⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114| CD

12/1

Beat a progressive one when successful at Musselburgh last November and produced a career best to follow up over C&D in mid-April. Couple of tame efforts this summer raise questions, though.

Form: 5611-56

Forecasts

Kiwi De Cotte (13/8), Ernest Gray (2/1), Secret Trix (5/2), Roger Pol (12/1), Speed Davis (25/1)

ERNEST GRAY has a 5 lb pull with Kiwi de Cotte on their Market Rasen clash and while that rival possesses the scope to go on again, Alan King's charge is weighted to come out on top this time. Secret Trix has been knocking on the door and will doubtless make his presence felt again.