Richard And Carol Hudson Handicap

1lb lower today than the last of his four wins, all of which have been over 7f. Ran well enough in a class 2 Doncaster contest in May to suggest that he can get heavily involved here, if you can forgive him his latest effort in an amateurs' event.

Has recorded three of his four wins here, the latest being over C&D earlier in the month, from 5lb lower. Has to be respected again, but previous efforts from similar marks to this suggest that he needs to improve to follow up.

Won a 6f Carlisle novices' event (good to firm) in July. Has gone well on both subsequent runs, though not quite up to that winning level of form. Looks interesting on handicap debut from this mark and stepped up to this trip.

Best form so far has involved some cut in the ground, with both his wins being on good to soft. Gradually getting the hang of handicapping after three runs (all 7f) and has to enter calculations after another 2lb drop.

Ended a drought at Musselburgh (7f, soft) in October, when 2lb higher. Yet to win on ground faster than good and best effort this season was at Doncaster in March, also on soft. Well treated now, but conditions a concern.

Scored here over 5f (good to firm) on debut last year and returned to winning ways at Carlisle (7f) last time. 6lb rise for that looks steep enough, but it was an improved effort and he may be capable of finding the necessary to back it up.

Won a Hamilton maiden (6f, good to soft) in September. Comfortably beaten from similar marks to today's over 7f at Thirsk on his last two starts, so more needed.