Lee Pollard 60th Birthday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 3m 50.81s

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Selected odds by:

Clearance¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: M Blake| OR: 110| CD

9/1

In fine form at Newton Abbot in recent months, winning 3 of his last 4 starts there, all at around this trip on good ground. 3 lb rise for latest success fair enough and was a C&D winner on sole previous visit here in 2019, so there are reasons to be optimistic.

Form: 451211

Gavin^h,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 104| D

6/1

Landed a Fakenham selling handicap on his final start for Joe Ponting and notched 2 quick Ffos Las wins for his current yard. Largely respectable efforts since but probably remains a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 112575

Bahtiyar¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 98| BF

2/1

Ex-French gelding who remains a maiden in this sphere following 10 attempts. However, positive start for this yard (also first run following a wind op) when finding just one too good over C&D recently and another bold show is anticipated.

Form: 26563-2

Long Call¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 95| D

17/2

Has his quirks but ended a long losing run on the Flat in June and made a successful return to hurdles in a 2m Bangor handicap last month. No backward step when runner-up over this C&D last time but may prove vulnerable now upped slightly in class.

Form: 3265-12

Full Of Light^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Hammond| T: B R Summers| OR: 92

33/1

Bumper winner in Ireland and scored twice over hurdles for Nicky Henderson during 2021/22. Generally disappointing since, though, and passed over here for all that he resumes in this sphere on an attractive mark.

Form: 56-PP5U

Max Of Stars¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-8| J: B S Hughes| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 108| BF

6/4

Has taken really well to hurdling, confirming promise of her debut in this sphere with back-to-back victories from the front at Newton Abbot. Didn't do much wrong when runner-up in a Bangor handicap last time (clear of the third, who has won since) and she's a big player.

Form: 2112

Forecasts

Max Of Stars (6/4), Bahtiyar (2/1), Gavin (6/1), Long Call (17/2), Clearance (9/1), Full Of Light (33/1)

MAX OF STARS couldn't quite capitalise on her handy 3-y-o allowance at Bangor recently but that was still a creditable effort and she could take some pegging back round here now reunited with Brian Hughes. Bahtiyar is a much-respected main danger on the back of an encouraging debut effort for this yard following a break here 16 days ago, while the hat-trick seeking Clearance also merits respect.