Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 19.67s

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Selected odds by:

Minella On Line⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127

8/1

Two most recent wins have come over fences, well fended off over 3m (good to soft) on hurdling return at Newbury in November and 5lb relief still leaves him with a bit to work on.

Form: 4/1U1P-8

Hit The Highway^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: G R I Smyly| OR: 124

4/1

A promising novice over timber, he was set backwards since after having three attempts over fences. Showed himself to be well on hurdling return at Warwick before a late fall but poor since at Exeter (2m5½f, soft). Something to prove now.

Form: P2P-4U7

De Rasher Counter²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124

11/4

Has shown promise in three starts over timber since joining this stable from Ireland. Second last time over 2m½f (good) and goes handicapping for the first time now. Ran well in winning heavy ground bumper at Clonmel in March and stays this far.

Form: 211-352

Chris Pea Green⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122

11/2

Talented novice chaser once upon a time (2014/15) but has rather lost his way and become something of a temperamental sort. No show in two runs back off a 596-day break at Ascot in November. Hard to fancy reverting to hurdles.

Form: 4U3P/9P

Morianour⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113

20/1

Won a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle on debut for this trainer, but could finish only second of three when odds-on to follow up at Bangor in August 2016. Well held on return at Wincanton in November, potentially fitter now.

Form: F/212-6

Tikken Away³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 112

11/2

Interesting sort who makes his handicap debut having shaped well in two runs for this yard in novice company. This trip is likely to suit and he ran well enough in sixth at Taunton last time out; well worth watching in the market.

Form: 0752-06

Druid's Folly^h,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 105

20/1

Has shown some glimpses of talent in the past but rather frustrating in three runs over hurdles since joining this latest yard. Drops another 5lb, which is about the only positive coming into this.

Form: 2-PP409

Alpha Indi³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 105

6/1

Seemed to be getting his act together in the spring and early summer but pair of backwards steps at Southwell and Doncaster (handicap debut, 2m3½f, good to soft) either side of layoff and hard to recommend now as such.

Form: 872-349

Forecasts

De Rasher Counter (11/4), Hit The Highway (4/1), Chris Pea Green (11/2), Tikken Away (11/2), Alpha Indi (6/1), Minella On Line (8/1), Morianour (20/1), Druid's Folly (20/1)

Plenty of these have got questions to answer at the moment. Tikken Away is noted on handicap debut and could have something to say for himself having shaped better on second start for this yard at Taunton in November. The testing ground is a concern however. DE RASHER COUNTER has no such fears having gone close in a Clonmel bumper on heavy last March. He has shaped well in novices' races since joining Emma Lavelle and could make his mark now sent handicapping. The others all have something to prove but Hit The Highway and Chris Pea Green would have claims at their best while Morianour may have needed the run on handicap bow at Wincanton and isn't dismissed.