Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 5m 59.27s

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Selected odds by:

Bugise Seagull³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137

9/2

Irish point recruit who won first 2 starts over hurdles last term and ended campaign with good third in Aintree Grade 1 novice. Encouraging second of 3 to Johnnywho at Carlisle (20f, good to soft) on chasing bow but ran poorly upped in grade on second chase start. Not ruled out back over hurdles.

Form: 1133-2P

Erne River^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 127| CD

17/2

Responded well to the first-time cheekpieces when scoring over C&D last December before fifth of 18 in the Great Yorkshire Handicap back here. Pulled up all 3 starts after before unseating rider in first-time blinkers 15 days ago. Failed to complete on last 4 starts and back over hurdles now.

Form: 15P-PPU

Quick Draw^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126| D

11/1

Has an all-or-nothing profile but made it 4 wins over fences for his current yard at Wincanton in February. Ran poorly on both chase starts this term though and dropped away quite quickly when asked for effort at Cheltenham (back over hurdles) 43 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 1P1-P69

Pyffo³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 125

15/8

Career-best display when landing 13-runner handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f) in June when trained by Jonjo & A J O'Neill but disappointing on first start for new yard/after a break finishing distant third at Wincanton (19.8f). Yard not had many runners of late, but better expected now up in trip.

Form: 2-21143

Bridge North^v⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 122

9/2

Not one to rely on but went with much more zest after the fitting of a visor/return to hurdling before taking a late fall at Doncaster (3m) in February when looking set to win. Failed to complete at Perth on final run of last season and lacklustre display on return after 6 months off when last seen.

Form: 4PF3U-4

Super Survivor^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 122| C| D

4/1

Won novice hurdle here in early 2022. Mixed bag since, struggled on his latest chase start and ended his campaign by finishing second by default back over hurdles at Newbury. Should strip fitter for recent comeback (third of 9, Sandown, 23.4f, heavy) and has a chance with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 3/2P82-3

Forecasts

Pyffo (15/8), Super Survivor (4/1), Bugise Seagull (9/2), Bridge North (9/2), Erne River (17/2), Quick Draw (11/1)

Difficult to make a strong case for any of these. We almost certainly didn't see the best of PYFFO on stable debut, for a yard that usually does so well with new recruits. Back up in trip today, he can take this race. Super Survivor encountered very testing ground on his comeback run 22 days ago, and assuming that hasn't left a mark, he looks the standout danger with cheekpieces back on. Bugise Seagull has some smart form as a novice hurdler and is respected back over the smaller obstacles.