Richard Howard Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 4m 11.53s

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Selected odds by:

Jipcot^h,t⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 117| BF

7/2

Showed fairly useful form over hurdles in France, winning a pair of juveniles at Pau. Below that level over hurdles and fences for current connections in 2023 but returns from a 3-month break with his stable in very good form. Refitted with the headgear he wore in France.

Form: 100-7F3

Damarta^h⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 114| D

11/8

Improved performer over hurdles following wind surgery, confirming promise of his Uttoxeter third when running out a comfortable winner at Southwell (15.8f) in January. 9 lb rise is fair enough given the manner of that success.

Form: 457331

Royal Rhythm⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Benjamin Macey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112| D

9/2

Dual hurdles winner in Ireland and, after 6 months off, he made a successful debut for Jonjo O'Neill at Carlisle (17.2f) in October. Firmly back on track with impressive success at Wetherby 2 months later and he can do better still. Probably the one to beat.

Form: 164-151

Bluegrass^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 106

10/3

Useful on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien (placed in the 2022 Dante). Showed promise over hurdles when runner-up in a pair of juveniles in March. A shade underwhelming on his handicap debut at Ascot but a bit more like it when third over this C&D 3 weeks ago.

Form: 4220-73

Greystoke²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 102

22/1

Opened hurdles account at Newton Abbot in May 2022 and hit the target on the Flat last spring. Sent off huge odds but shaped quite nicely starting out for new yard at Taunton last month. Dangerous if building on that.

Form: 3/1426-5

Non-Runners

Jack's A Legend¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: A E Jones J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Damarta (11/8), Bluegrass (10/3), Jipcot (7/2), Jack's A Legend (4/1), Royal Rhythm (9/2), Greystoke (22/1)

ROYAL RHYTHM made it 2-3 for Jonjo O'Neill with a bit to spare at Wetherby on Boxing Day, and with his limit for this yard probably not yet reached, he's fancied to shrug off a 6 lb rise. Jipcot has headgear on for the first time since his days in France and he represents a stable in form, with Greystoke another to consider at the foot of the weights.