Skomal Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 9.02s

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Selected odds by:

Judicial Law³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118

11/4

Has presumably met with problems since doing so well last season (3 wins), seemingly needing the run after another 6 months off at Exeter recently. Eased 3 lb and not dismissed upped in trip.

Form: 1513-84

Armchair Farmer^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116| BF| CD

2/1

Resumed his progress back from 3 months off when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, good to soft) last month, clear from halfway and eased about 4 lengths late on. Folded tamely at Doncaster 7 days later but possibly found the race coming too soon. Worth another chance.

Form: 321212

Ernest Gray²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 114

9/2

Useful dual bumper winner who appeared to improve for the step up to 24.4f/switch to handicap company when landing a 4-runner contest at Doncaster (24.4f) in March. Pulled up back on softer ground at Newbury since, though.

Form: 0-4541P

Godrevy Point^p⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: R Bandey| OR: 114

10/1

Runner-up twice before getting off the mark in a 25f Hereford maiden hurdle last February. Disappointing over fences this season but no forlorn hope now returning to hurdles.

Form: 213-F55

Let's Have Another^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B Roberts⁽⁷⁾| T: C Hobson| OR: 112

40/1

Lightly raced 7-y-o who gained second success in small-field Market Rasen novice (20.6f) in October. However, ran a moody race sent chasing at Uttoxeter next time and hasn't been back at his best back over hurdles since. First run for yard after leaving Olly Murphy. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 1-517P4

Lanspark^p1⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 108| D

11/1

Dual winner last season who ran respectably without looking well treated when second in 6-runner handicap at Exeter (23.1f, heavy, 16/5) in January. First run for yard after leaving Joe Tizzard for £13,000. Cheekpieces also applied.

Form: 145-252

Grillon De Monty¹¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 105| BF

5/1

7-y-o who won 3 cross-country chases at Blain-Bouvron-Le-Gavre in April/May 2021 and showed he retains plenty of ability after when runner-up in Southwell handicap hurdle in November. Proved a disappointment here on Boxing Day, though.

Form: 11/1F-2P

Non-Runners

The Questioner²⁴

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Armchair Farmer (2/1), Judicial Law (11/4), The Questioner (4/1), Ernest Gray (9/2), Grillon De Monty (5/1), Godrevy Point (10/1), Lanspark (11/1), Let's Have Another (40/1)

THE QUESTIONER was let down by his jumping at Sedgefield last time, but he'd been progressing well prior to that and looks interesting now returning to hurdles having won an Ascot handicap when last seen in this sphere. The step up in trip could suit Judicial Law, while Armchair Farmer can be give given another chance having possibly found the race coming too soon at Doncaster.