Can race freely and wears a hood, but tends to go well fresh. Back over hurdles at Cheltenham in April, shaping well to be fifth, and just beginning to weaken when hampered in Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May. Tongue tie fitted for first time.
Off the mark over hurdles at Towcester in May, but found nothing off the bridle when second to Earlshill at Southwell next time, and resolution now called into question.
Rattled off a hat-trick last summer but signs the handicapper was catching up with him towards the end of that campaign. Probably needed the run at Cheltenham last month, but beaten too far to be confident of sufficient improvement here.
Won at Uttoxeter and Newton Abbot earlier in the campaign, and back on track when a staying-on sixth of 16 to Storm Rising in conditional handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Needs to step up again.
Below form since falling in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March, his jumping again letting him down at Chepstow on his return to hurdling last month. Must gain fluency to remain competitive in handicaps.
Ended last term prematurely after breathing problems surfaced, but form of his placed efforts at Market Rasen has been franked, and benefited from wind surgery to make a mockery of his opening mark at Ascot. Penalty won't stop him in similar mood.
Non-Runners
1
Golden Birthday13
Weight: 11-12| Age: 7
T: H Fry J: Kieron Edgar
NR
Forecasts
New Quay (5/6), Capitaine (7/2), French Crusader (5/1), Majestic Touch (11/1), Knight Destroyer (16/1), Golden Birthday (16/1), Our Merlin (33/1)
NEW QUAY looked well ahead of his mark when scoring at Ascot recently, and should follow up if in the same form, his trainer wise to strike while the iron is hot. Capitaine is preferred to French Crusader for minor honours, the latter not impressing with his finishing effort last time.