Oberon Investments Salmon Spray Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 4m 31.44s

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Selected odds by:

Quinta Do Mar²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 130

2/1

Positive start over hurdles, landing 2m Ludlow novice in March. Resumed progress when cosily winning his first handicap at just the second attempt on reappearance last month so he's respected up 9 lb.

Form: 2/3124-1

Mercian Prince^b,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 127| D

4/1

Turned in his best effort of the season when scoring at Kempton over fences 4 weeks ago, all out to hold on. Just 2 lb higher than previous win over timber back in June so not dismissed.

Form: 219321

Humaniste^h1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 127

18/1

Decisive winner of a Tipperary handicap hurdle for Eddie O'Grady just over a year ago and came out on top on first outing for new yard in claiming hurdle last month. First start for new connections.

Form: 816F-71

Natural History²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125| BF

6/4

Back to something like his smart Flat form when hacking up in a Plumpton handicap hurdle in March. Beaten favourite on next 2 starts but he's almost certainly still ahead of his mark. The one to beat.

Form: 22162-

State Crown^p³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 117

11/1

Opened hurdles account at Newton Abbot during the spring, and improved when making all for an emphatic success over the same C&D in August. Well-beaten fourth last time so others make more appeal.

Form: 661-914

Trans Express^p²⁰⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 109

40/1

6-time winner at Exeter but ended last term with a bit of a whimper, tailed off there in April. Looks up against it here after 6 months off the track.

Form: 621666-

Non-Runners

Tap Tap Boom³⁶⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: Non Runner

Pyramid Place¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 4

T: M F Harris J: Mitchell Bastyan

Forecasts

Natural History (6/4), Quinta Do Mar (2/1), Mercian Prince (4/1), Pyramid Place (8/1), Tap Tap Boom (8/1), State Crown (11/1), Humaniste (18/1), Trans Express (40/1)

A few in with a chance but NATURAL HISTORY is almost certainly still ahead of his mark over hurdles so he's put forward as the answer. Gary Moore continues to fire out the winners and he can add to that tally here provided his charge is ready to roll on reappearance. Quinta Do Mar could provide the main threat having won his first handicap at Carlisle last month, ahead of Mercian Prince.