Starsports.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:53 | Winning time: 6m 37.6s

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Selected odds by:

Weseekherthere^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 106

11/1

Bumper/hurdles winner for Gordon Elliott who stepped up plenty on her stable debut run when second of 7 in mares' handicap at Hereford (19.7f) in November. Ran poorly on return at Wincanton (21.4f, good) 17 days ago and now hiked up in distance.

Form: 41P027-

The Wise Traveller¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: James Best| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 103| CD

8/1

Arrived seeking a hat-trick but possibly found the race coming too soon after just 9 days off when down the field at Stratford (26.4f, good to soft) 17 days ago, never involved having gone in snatches. Bounce back needed.

Form: 23/7117-

Westtara¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 103

18/1

Well held in bumpers and having shown little on his first 2 starts over hurdles in 2021 (won once from more than a dozen point runs since), exceeded expectations when third in maiden at Plumpton last month. Failed by a long chalk to repeat that sent handicapping last time, though.

Form: 2/33R37-

Thirtyfour Thirty¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: S Hosie| OR: 103| C

11/4

Fairly useful bumper winner for Nigel Twiston-Davies and found some improvement when opening his account over hurdles for present stable at this track (17.7f) in December. Disappointed on both subsequent starts but a return to this venue could spark a revival.

Form: 644166-

Chabadatika⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: S Hosie| OR: 101

33/1

Fair form over hurdles in France but has beaten just one rival on both completed starts for this yard. Headgear left off returning from 3 months off and the handicapper relinquishes his grip further.

Form: F51/75P-

Bobalot^p,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 99| C

4/1

Resumed winning ways back hurdling in 2¾m course handicap in January. Little to shout about since but is edging back down the weights as a result. Cheekpieces back on upped in distance.

Form: 4P14P5-

The Bold Thady^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 98

13/8

Weak finisher who has yet to win but he does have consistent form figures, not disgraced when 9 lengths fifth of 6 to The Wise Traveller in handicap at Fakenham (23.4f, good) last month. In the mix.

Form: 3/23B25-

Non-Runners

Aworkinprogress⁴¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: N J Gifford J: James Davies

Forecasts

Aworkinprogress (6/4), The Bold Thady (13/8), Thirtyfour Thirty (11/4), Bobalot (4/1), The Wise Traveller (8/1), Weseekherthere (11/1), Westtara (18/1), Chabadatika (33/1)

It's tough to get away from AWORKINPROGRESS, who was suited by the increase in trip to get off the mark here just under 6 weeks ago and with more to come as stamina is drawn out further, Nick Gifford's 5-y-o is a confident selection to follow up. The main danger may emerge from The Bold Thady, who is yet to get his head in front but boasts consistent form figures, with Thirtyfour Thirty rounding off the shortlist back at this track.