Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 4.14s

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Selected odds by:

I'm To Blame^h¹⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 135| BF| CD

5/4

Boasts an excellent strike-rate (5-7 career, 3-5 over hurdles); lost his unbeaten record at this track in a slugging match with Bordeaux Bill (2m4f, good to soft) in March; 2lb higher; connections won this race in 2018 with Mixboy.

Form: 1/13112-

Raise A Spark^h³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 127| C| DWS

40/1

Hasn't run over hurdles since May 2018; refused to race at Haydock last December, and tailed-off on both subsequent chasing starts (tested positive for equine influenza after Ayr in February); first appearance since wind surgery.

Form: 314R4-5

Prancing Oscar²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 117

7/1

Runner-up to the progressive Desert Point on handicap debut at Hexham (2m, good); lacks much in the way of experience over obstacles but is clearly heading in the right direction, so it'll come as no surprise if he runs a solid race.

Form: 312

Rukwa⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 117| D

7/1

Improving with racing for Sam England, picking up a small maiden hurdle at Cartmel (2m1f, soft) in July - beat Best Not Argue by a neck; perhaps didn't stay 2m4f+ latest; faces a tough 'ish' task on handicap debut in a Class 3 contest.

Form: F-42414

Snookered^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 115| CD

13/8

Broke his duck over hurdles, with a smooth all the way (unchallenged) passage over C&D (good) last month; was possibly flattered by that bare form (had the run of the race); has more to do from a 6lb higher mark.

Form: 06424-1

Non-Runners

Lucky Icon⁴¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: P A Kirby J: A Nicol

Forecasts

I'm To Blame (5/4), Snookered (13/8), Lucky Icon (7/2), Prancing Oscar (7/1), Rukwa (7/1), Raise A Spark (40/1)

Keith Dalgleish and Paul and Clare Rooney took this race last year with Mixboy and their course specialist I'M TO BLAME is fancied to return to winning ways. An exciting novice, he lost his unbeaten record at this track when involved in a barging match with Bordeaux Bill (2m4f) in March. Still low-mileage in handicap company, he has the potential to progress more rapidly than the majority of these rivals (despite a mark in the mid 130's) and he won't be troubled by dropping back in trip. With Snookered perhaps flattered by his easy recent C&D success, the chief threat could emerge from the fast-improving Prancing Oscar.