Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 4m 12.9s

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Selected odds by:

Wild Max^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| D

15/2

Looked much more comfortable back over hurdles when fourth at Musselburgh 4 weeks ago, getting tired only late on. That was more like it and with the yard in better nick, he may feature down 4 lb.

Form: 1FP-0P4

Straw Fan Jack¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 128

11/1

Bounced back from a poor run when sixth of 13 in 2m4f handicap at Aintree (heavy) in December but ran poorly (lost shoe) in first-time cheekpieces a fortnight ago. Others preferred.

Form: 26-206P

Glory And Honour²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 123| BF| D

6/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who ran a solid race when 9 lengths fifth of 12 in a competitive Cheltenham handicap (16.8f) 5 weeks ago. Got no further than the third a week later so can get back on track.

Form: 3-02F5F

Lord Baddesley²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 123| CD

9/4

Winner of 2 of 4 starts as a novice hurdler last term. Didn't take to fences first 2 runs this season but better signs when fourth over C&D 3 weeks ago, passing several having been anchored in rear.

Form: 1-4P3P4

Tap Tap Boom²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 121

20/1

Proved he retains his ability after 13 months off when third at Hereford (19.7f) in December but has disappointed on both subsequent outings. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 24/2-3P7

Black Poppy³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 113| D

6/4

Warwick bumper winner on debut last spring and justified strong support to make a winning handicap debut at Hereford 33 days ago. With further improvement on the cards, he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 1-F3421

Forecasts

Black Poppy (6/4), Lord Baddesley (9/4), Glory And Honour (6/1), Wild Max (15/2), Straw Fan Jack (11/1), Tap Tap Boom (20/1)

BLACK POPPY justified strong support to prove his opening mark lenient at Hereford 33 days ago, showing a really likeable attitude in the process having been headed briefly on the run-in. With further improvement a distinct possibility, Kerry Lee's charge is fancied to follow up. Lord Baddesley is put forward as the main threat after his fourth over C&D 3 weeks ago, ahead of Wild Max.