Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 4m 12.3s

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Selected odds by:

Al Zaraqaan²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Watson| OR: 125| D

11/2

Smart at best on Flat and very much going the right way over hurdles, making it 4 on the spin at Musselburgh last month. Hit with a 9 lb rise and unable to complete the 5-timer in a stronger race last time but no surprise should he regain the winning thread today.

Form: 411117

Ashington^v¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 123| C

3/1

Solid efforts at Wetherby/Cheltenham upon joining present yard but yet to get his head in front, not for the first time finding himself in a race with some much better-treated ones at former course 15 days ago. Headgear back on today but more needed.

Form: 9352B3

Faron^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 121WS

50/1

Dual hurdle winner for Joseph O'Brien this year and ended his time with that stable when second in a Ballinrobe handicap in August. However, he was beaten a long way out on sole start for Patrick Neville and it was a similar story on yard bow at Ayr last month. Since had a wind op.

Form: 1-P1267

Fruit N Nut³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120| D

5/2

Dual soft-ground bumper winner at the start of 2021 and made an impressive transition to hurdling when scoring at Bangor later that year. Didn't help his rider at Wetherby on return and was well held in a more competitive contest at Kempton since. Leading claims in this.

Form: 110/1-30

Dr Sanderson⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 119| D

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser scored twice over fences at Cartmel in the summer but has ran poorly on his last 3 outings since being switched back to hurdling. Can't be fancied on recent showings.

Form: 11U578

Matchless²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 119

11/4

Fairly useful Flat performer who scored on hurdles bow at Newcastle (16.2f) in November. Doubled his tally back in a small-field contest at Catterick (15.7f, soft) 4 weeks ago and he must have serious claims of opening his account in handicap company.

Form: 1261

Snookered^p⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: P W Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 116| CD

10/1

Successful in lady riders event at Cartmel (17.2f) in July. However, just respectable showings at best since, only fourth of 5 in handicap at Musselburgh (23.8f, soft) 8 weeks ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 693654

Non-Runners

Salsada¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: B Ellison J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Salsada (6/4), Fruit N Nut (5/2), Matchless (11/4), Ashington (3/1), Al Zaraqaan (11/2), Snookered (10/1), Dr Sanderson (14/1), Faron (50/1)

Cases can be made for a few of these but FRUIT N NUT is fancied to get back on the up on just his second handicap start with Brain Hughes back in the plate. Al Zaraqaan was unable to complete the 5-timer 4 weeks ago but he remains one to be positive about so he heads up the dangers, ahead of Matchless, who doubled his tally in small-field contests earlier this month.