Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 6m 4.6s

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Selected odds by:

Beat That³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147

12/1

Dual Grade One winning novice hurdler but injuries then struck. Campaigned over fences lately but two falls followed by latest third (of three finishers) suggest he is a long way short of that now. Handicap likely to be too high.

Form: 6/6-2FF3

Dicosimo^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 139

50/1

Mostly campaigned over fences for Willie Mullins lately although without any great success. Set a stiff task for stable debut in an Ascot Grade Two back over hurdles. Hard to gauge where he is in his career but others more obvious.

Form: 282P45

Sam Red^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

7/1

Won first two starts of season over fences before heavy fall at Newcastle. Handicap hurdle form suggests current mark high enough although in good enough order to not rule him out.

Form: 26-311F

Holly Bush Henry²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 133| D

5/1

Recent wins at Worcester and Plumpton followed by creditable efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree although he did leave the impression he was high enough in the handicap at present.

Form: 651164

Terry The Fish³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133| D

7/1

Summer hat-trick at Uttoxeter saw him make rapid progress through the ranks. Second at Worcester and fourth at Newbury latest in a warm contest suggest he isn't done improving yet so merits serious consideration here.

Form: 3-11124

Connetable^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| C

4/1

Largely disappointing in 2017 but all the while his handicap has been sliding. Not disgraced last time out at Cheltenham however and with a further ease he is starting to become of interest handicap wise.

Form: 706-805

Head To The Stars³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: N de Boinville| T: H D Daly| OR: 125

10/1

Leicester novice hurdle winner last term but was well held on his handicap debut to start this season at Carlisle over 2m4f. More needed but unexposed over this sort of distance.

Form: 0/7124-6

Monbeg Oscar²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120

2/1

Impressive 3m point-to-point winner is a maiden under rules although he is yet to run a bad race and has yet to try further than 2m2½f. Big potential off this mark with this step up in trip. 1lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 1/432-2

Forecasts

Monbeg Oscar (2/1), Connetable (4/1), Holly Bush Henry (5/1), Sam Red (7/1), Terry The Fish (7/1), Head To The Stars (10/1), Beat That (12/1), Dicosimo (50/1)

MONBEG OSCAR has big potential off this sort of handicap mark with this longer trip expected to bring about serious improvement. Also entering calculations is the improving Terry The Fish who shows no signs that the handicapper yet has his measure. Connetable has had a lean spell but may be ready to go well now with another drop in weight.