Weatherbys & Northampton Town FC Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 3m 47.26s

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Selected odds by:

Chief Sunday³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 116| D

9/4

Progressive type was denied at a hat-trick when runner-up at Ludlow last month (15.8f), a race that is working out extremely well with the first and third having won next time out. Could well be more to come from this lightly-raced sort.

Form: 8-44112

Holeshot³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 108

15/8

Left handicap debut fifth well behind when showing much improved form over a longer trip latest, making all to land an 8-runner handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, soft) in taking fashion. Has to contend with a 10 lb rise and step up in grade but unlikely we've seen the best of this unexposed type.

Form: 2F-4251

What's One More²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 102| BF| D

10/3

Lightly-raced mare often races keenly (including when landing a bumper last season) and was again too free when tackling a longer trip on second start in handicap company latest (Fontwell 19.1f), failing to see out her race after making smooth headway. Big player if relaxing back over 2 miles.

Form: 71-4344

Denzil²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 108| D

4/1

Landed a 3-runner race on debut at Stratford, and despite being outclassed at Listed level on next start, bounced back with a brace of runners-up efforts. Easy to back when last on handicap debut but could be interesting if market vibes are more positive in receipt of a handy 4-y-o allowance.

Form: 16220

Non-Runners

Caramelo Rapido³⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: M Walford J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Holeshot (15/8), Chief Sunday (9/4), What's One More (10/3), Denzil (4/1), Caramelo Rapido (10/1)

A case can be made for each of the quintet, the strongest for smooth-travelling WHAT’S ONE MORE who could prove well-handicapped if she can settle better back at 2 miles, in a race that may well be run to suit. Chief danger is the unexposed Holeshot who won in the style of an improving horse last month and he might be able to cope with this step up in grade and sharper test, while Chief Sunday has to be respected with the form of his latest second working out particularly well.