Betfred Watch Sky Sports In Our Shops Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 7.3s

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Chti Balko²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| CD

11/4

Put together back-to-back wins in maiden/novices' hurdles earlier in the year, the latter here over C&D (heavy). Well held here last time over further, but drop in trip can help him and he should be more competitive today.

Form: 3119-34

The Gipper¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 126| D

16/1

Has shown his best form on very testing ground and over this trip. 4lb lower today than when scoring in this grade at Chepstow (heavy) in February. Improved for reappearance run but still well beaten last time, but 5lb drop could spark revival.

Form: 51-2F55

Sleepy Haven¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: J Candlish| OR: 124| CD

12/1

Won a similar race over C&D (heavy) three years ago and bettered that at Kempton (soft) next time. Made the most of his most recent opportunity from today's mark at Leicester on Boxing Day and enters calculations again after good recent run.

Form: 4424-53

Quids In^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ian Popham| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 121| D

6/1

Sole success was on heavy ground (2m) at Uttoxeter in maiden company in February. Has been reasonably competitive without yet winning in handicaps and did well when 1½L third (2m3f, heavy) here last time. Needs a bit more from same mark.

Form: 335-423

Joke Dancer¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 119| CD

7/2

Improving with each run over hurdles and caught the eye with a ready 6L win here over C&D (heavy) earlier in the month. Interesting that connections opt for handicap debut rather than carrying a penalty in novices' company and he has claims.

Form: 6-621

Cap Du Nord¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 109| D

2/1

Made the most of what looked an enticing mark when scoring in novices' handicap company at Sandown last time. Front pair were 8L clear there and a 9lb rise looks fair enough. Potential for improvement though has it to prove on heavy ground.

Form: P2-6061

Forecasts

Cap Du Nord (2/1), Chti Balko (11/4), Joke Dancer (7/2), Quids In (6/1), Sleepy Haven (12/1), The Gipper (16/1)

JOKE DANCER left a good impression when winning in similar conditions earlier in the month and Sue Smith's improving four-year-old is taken to follow-up on his handicap debut. Sleepy Haven is back on a mark from which we know he can win, so expect a competitive effort from him again, while Chti Balko should do better now dropped back to the minimum trip. Cap Du Nord has it to prove in these conditions (was pulled up on point-to-point debut on only previous heavy ground run) but if he handles it then he has potential for improvement. The Gipper is also on a good mark and a market check is advised to gauge any confidence in a revival from him.