Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 5m 32.95s

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Selected odds by:

Eminent Poet²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130

2/1

Disappointed in his bid for a hat-trick when upped to this grade at Haydock last month. Previously a winner twice over hurdles on soft and heavy ground and he still holds entries in two of the handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival next week.

Form: 341181

Disputed^h⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 125

9/4

Consistent sort who's been running well without winning this season. Finished third over 2m3f at Fontwell when having the hood re-applied on his penultimate start and not disgraced at Cheltenham subsequently. Should appreciate the ground and yard have a 27% strike rate (3/11) in recent weeks.

Form: 1-72433

Old Salt³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123

5/1

Successful on his debut for this yard on soft ground at Ludlow in November but well held in two novice events since including over 2m4f at Sedgefield last time out. Makes his handicap debut here.

Form: 4F-3

Like The Sound²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T Dowling⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Mann| OR: 122

5/2

Ex-French gelding was successful at Uttoxeter in a maiden event in December. Finished runner-up in a novices event last time out but likely to prefer today's softer ground and makes his handicap debut in this.

Form: /2-8

Forecasts

Eminent Poet (2/1), Disputed (9/4), Like The Sound (5/2), Old Salt (5/1)

LIKE THE SOUND can make a winning handicap debut in this small field event. The selection was successful on his penultimate start under today's conditional jockey prior to finishing runner-up behind a promising novice hurdler at Kempton last time out. The predicted softer ground here looks likely to suit and he receives weight from all his rivals which is another positive given likely conditions. The consistent Disputed can claim another place having finished a close enough fourth at Cheltenham last time out whilst Eminent Poet can get the better of handicap debutant Old Salt here.