Bet 10 Get 20 At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:56 | Winning time: 5m 29.4s

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Le Breuil²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| D

1/1

Should be stronger for his seasonal reappearance/handicap debut, when approximately 4½L fifth to Bags Groove at Kempton last month (2m5f good). Proved himself to be a useful novice over this trip last season, and set for a bold bid from the front.

Form: 1411P-5

Cool Sky²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 123| D

8/1

Versatile performer who was a winner on the Flat at Goodwood in August (rated 80), and picked up an easy 'ish' race on his return to hurdles at Uttoxeter in September (2m4f good). Less promise latest and more is required.

Form: 2613-17

Alphabetical Order³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 121| D

9/1

Hasn't seen much hurdles action since a productive novice season for Tim Vaughan in 2014. Been with various trainers since including David O'Meara (Flat) but effective in 2m handicap hurdles this season, slowly rising in the weights without winning.

Form: 1311/32

Black Ivory⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 120| D

13/8

Knows how to win races over this trip, and has progressed steadily since making a winning switch to handicap company at Uttoxeter in November 2016. Back with a solid effort here in October (3m) when beaten ¾L by Bon Chic. Up 4lb.

Form: 31124-2

Forecasts

Le Breuil (1/1), Black Ivory (13/8), Cool Sky (8/1), Alphabetical Order (9/1)

LE BREUIL proved himself as a progressive novice last season, cementing a most productive campaign with a 9L thrashing of Benatar at Newbury in March (2m4f+ soft). Although not quite proving capable of competing in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices Hurdle here in April, he made a pleasing start to life in handicaps when finishing fifth to Bags Grove in a stronger race than this at Kempton last month. His current mark of 139 is certainly no gift, but David Bass is likely to dictate the fractions from the front end in this small field affair, and he looks to have just that extra bit of class to these three rivals, and that should prove decisive. Black Ivory is effective over this trip, and is clearly well suited to this flat track, and looks the safest forecast option despite being raised 4lb for his seasonal reappearance, and now sitting 10lb above his last winning mark.