racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 5m 25.11s

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Selected odds by:

Rafferty's Return^p,t³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 125| D

10/1

Front runner who landed a pair of handicap hurdles early last year. Held when falling 2 out on his Wetherby reappearance and ran below form ridden with more restraint at Doncaster since, his jumping not nearly as fluent as is often the case. Cheekpieces back on and has a bit to prove now.

Form: 1715-F7

Foster'sisland²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 123| CD

11/2

Winless last season but signed off with a good third here in the spring and similar form after 7 months off when second of 6 at Wetherby (19.7f) in November. Found out in a better race at Cheltenham a fortnight later but back on song returned to the North when fourth on Boxing Day.

Form: 543-204

Ginger Mail^p¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 122| C

12/1

Consistent type who won at Kelso (2m) last January and was also an excellent second in the valuable Morebattle Hurdle there in March. Shaped well on last month's reappearance (back at Kelso) but unable to build on that at Musselburgh since, in need of a stronger gallop. Dropped another 2 lb.

Form: 1320-45

Nab Wood²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 122

11/4

Lightly-raced gelding won novice hurdle at Kelso 12 months ago and followed up in equally impressive style on handicap debut there in February (overcoming pace bias). Showed plenty to work on after 11 months off when sixth at same track on return just over 3 weeks ago and should come on from that.

Form: 67211-6

Park Annonciade^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 114| C

5/2

Fairly useful hurdler who was in the process of running well (in second at the time) when falling 3 out in handicap chase at Doncaster (19f) last month. Never on terms at this course (16.5f, soft) earlier in the month (didn't look a natural chaser) so no surprise to see him back hurdling.

Form: 5-PF7F3

El Jefe^h,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 112

40/1

Enjoyed a fine 2023/24, gaining a fifth victory when landing amateur riders' handicap (16.5f) at the Grand National Meeting in April. Looked rusty returning from 9 months off back there on Boxing Day (had wind op) and no surprise if he still needs this before he starts to refind his form.

Form: 81271-8

Golden Maverick^v1⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 110

10/3

A fairly useful 5-time winner on the Flat for Ian Williams and scored twice hurdling for current yard last spring. Stepped up on return while typically looking a hard ride when fourth of 8 at Lingfield (19.5f, soft) 6 weeks ago and no surprise to see a first-time visor applied.

Form: 311-204

Forecasts

Park Annonciade (5/2), Nab Wood (11/4), Golden Maverick (10/3), Foster'sisland (11/2), Rafferty's Return (10/1), Ginger Mail (12/1), El Jefe (40/1)

Tough to rule out any on the septet but the verdict goes to NAB WOOD, who was a dual winner at Kelso around this time last year and showed plenty to work on returning from 11 months off just over 3 weeks ago. It's fair to say Park Annonciade didn't look a natural over fences, so Stuart Crawford's 7-y-o heads up the dangers back in this discipline, with Golden Maverick taken to edge out Ginger Mail for third spot.