Dine & Stay At The Jolly Sportsman Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 25.85s

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Selected odds by:

Stylia⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 89

4/1

Down the field only start in bumpers but glimmers of promise to glean from 2 of her 3 starts in novice/maiden hurdles at around 2m during the winter. In good hands and capable of better now handicapping over this markedly longer trip.

Form: F28044

Ballela Blaze¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: T Gallagher| OR: 87

5/1

Easy winner sole start in Irish points in March 2023 but not yet threatened under Rules, making only late gains when third of 9 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f, good to soft) 14 days ago. This step up in trip needs to unlock some improvement.

Form: 7-05483

Westtara²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 86

11/2

Left previous efforts behind when third in maiden at this venue 12 months ago before finishing season with a creditable third of 7 in a handicap at Fontwell (25.8f, good). However, low-key efforts since the turn of the year and others more persuasive despite tumbling mark.

Form: 37-36P5

Abbeyhill^b1,t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 82| CD

5/2

Dual hurdles scorer around 3m last season who showed more than previously over fences when making the frame in handicaps at Market Rasen/Ffos Las before a lacklustre effort at Fontwell (26f) in February. Blinkers go on back over hurdles and a revival certainly not ruled out.

Form: P56344

Bella Cavalla^p¹³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 76

9/4

Temperamental sort who is still winless over hurdles but ran up to best when runner-up in a C&D handicap in October. Not discredited when third of 4 in handicap back here a month later and she's not out of things back from a break.

Form: 354223

Non-Runners

Pure Theatre³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: A J Honeyball J: Chad Bament

Forecasts

Bella Cavalla (9/4), Abbeyhill (5/2), Pure Theatre (7/2), Stylia (4/1), Ballela Blaze (5/1), Westtara (11/2)

Not a deep contest by any means and with that in mind a chance is taken on STYLIA. She looked to be brought along gradually in maiden/novice hurdle contests during the winter and very much appeals as the type to progress now handicapping over this much longer trip. Abbeyhill, back over hurdles in first-time blinkers, looks the danger.