Holdcroft Volvo Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 4m 58.6s

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Selected odds by:

Cliffside Park^p,t⁸¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: H James| OR: 117| D

100/1

Lost his way for his former stable and plenty to prove after a very moderate effort before being pulled up last time out. Best watched on debut for a new yard.

Form: 25164P-

Darling Miss^p⁴^{(ex 14)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 103

4/6

Been successful on two raids on British prize-money already this month and looks a progressive type for a modest race like this. Will need to be just that under a double penalty but Richard Johnson knows him well. Bold bid for the hat-trick likely.

Form: 3P-5211

Brotherly Company⁴⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 113

20/1

Been off for over a year but reverts to hurdles at a reasonable level; has gone close when fresh before and is 1lb below his last winning mark. One to note in the betting.

Form: F38P32/

Doctor Look Here²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 110

10/1

Feasibly on a competitive mark but well beaten in both starts since returning from a long absence and now has a lot to prove with regard to retaining interest in the game.

Form: 171P/P9

Grove Silver^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J Candlish| OR: 110| C| D

20/1

Well held in two starts at Newton Abbot last month and is another with a bit to prove as he's only made it to the racecourse twice since May 2017.

Form: 415/5P-P

Cougar Kid^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 107| D

5/2

Set to race from just 2lb above his last winning mark over hurdles but he's been expensive and indeed frustrating to follow since he last tasted success. Well beaten the last time he raced at this course but should handle the conditions.

Form: 53674-2

Stolberg^p,t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 84| D

28/1

Out of the weights and form has been uninspiring of late. Needs a lot to go his way on these terms; hard to recommend on the back of a poor run at Warwick last month.

Form: PP8-375

Forecasts

Darling Miss (4/6), Cougar Kid (5/2), Doctor Look Here (10/1), Brotherly Company (20/1), Grove Silver (20/1), Stolberg (28/1), Cliffside Park (100/1)

With doubts existing about the resilience and remaining ability of Brotherly Company, Cougar Kid, and Doctor Look Here this might be best left to DARLING MISS, who is unlikely to ever be found a better opportunity to attempt to carry a double penalty to victory. The mare has more scope than the rest and is easily the most consistent contender on recent evidence.