Golwg Gwendraeth, This Way To Wonderful Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 40.19s

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Selected odds by:

Slip Road^p1⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: G Sheehan| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 112

15/2

Turned in easily his best effort after a near 3-year absence when second of 8 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (25.5f, good to soft, 11/1) 47 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Remains on same mark and not discounted if able to build on that.

Form: 421/772

Balkardy⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Miss Eleanor Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 111| C

4/1

In excellent form over fences in summer 2022 and has found only one too good on all 4 starts back hurdling on return, coming clear with another consistent sort over C&D in December. Leading claims.

Form: 23-2222

Monbari²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 105

16/1

Runner-up in a bumper and offered something to work on when fourth on hurdles bow at Warwick (19f) in November. Out of depth at Cheltenham next time but stopped alarmingly sharply at Wincanton last month, so he looks best watched on handicap debut.

Form: 2-498

Fevertre⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 102

12/1

Well backed and showed improved form when second in 3m Carlisle handicap on return in November 2021. Limited to just 2 subsequent starts under Rules (safely held on each occasion) but should come on for his Warwick reappearance and he's intriguing from a reduced mark.

Form: 4F27/2-4

Bobo Mac^p⁴¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 101| D

13/2

Thorough stayer arrives after a trio of creditable placed efforts, third of 10 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (22.2f, heavy) most recently. Solid frame claims again.

Form: 545-223

Tune In A Box⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 94| D

1/1

Much improved when landing 10-runner event at Newcastle on handicap debut before progressing further to score at Wetherby (24.1f, heavy) last week. Capable of better again and he's the one to beat under a penalty.

Form: 45-6911

Karakoram^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 85| D

16/1

Scored at Taunton last spring but more miss than hit since, only seventh of 10 in handicap hurdle there (23.9f, good to soft) 49 days ago. Now 4 lb below last winning mark but others still preferred.

Form: 0-87367

Non-Runners

Lucky So And So²⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: Nicky Martin J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Tune In A Box (1/1), Balkardy (4/1), Bobo Mac (13/2), Slip Road (15/2), Fevertre (12/1), Karakoram (16/1), Monbari (16/1), Lucky So And So (20/1)

Tom Lacey's progressive novice TUNE IN A BOX looks more than capable of maintaining his unbeaten record in handicaps, a 7 lb penalty for last week's Wetherby success appealing as more than manageable given his ongoing improvement. Balkardy may find one too good for the fifth start in succession, with Slip Road also considered having proven he retains ability last time.