JCB Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 43.5s

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Selected odds by:

Givemefive^p,t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 132| D

9/2

Landed Cheltenham conditions race on return in October and back to winning ways in 2m Newcastle handicap in a first-time tongue tie (retained) last month. Enjoyed the run of that from the front and may find this harder to dominate.

Form: 4-14031

Luttrell Lad^p,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 123| D

4/1

Back to winning ways in a small field at Taunton (2m, soft) in February. Shaped as if still in good form when seventh of 17 at Aintree (2m, good) since. Respected.

Form: 406417

Bluegrass^p,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard| T: S Edmunds| OR: 122| D

4/1

Gained a third win of a productive campaign when shading a tight finish at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) last month. No surprise were he to pull out more again.

Form: 611P21

Oslo^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

12/1

Produced a career best to land a 9-runner handicap at Huntingdon (2m, good) last April. Also placed twice over hurdles last summer and arrives fit from a couple of runs on AW Flat last month. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 1-B33U6

Well Educated¹⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 114| D

28/1

Scored in quick succession at Hexham and Kelso last May. Running only respectably when last seen in the autumn but back on a workable mark if close to his best after 5 months off.

Form: 274365

Schmilsson^p1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: K Brogan| T: O Murphy| OR: 112| D

13/2

Second hurdle success when shading a tight finish in 2m Wetherby handicap on reappearance. Hasn't been able to hit those heights since but has dropped to 2 lb below the mark he defied at Wetherby if first-time cheekpieces help him to stage a revival.

Form: 3-13454

Got Grey^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 110| D

9/4

Improved for joining Dan Skelton, winning 2m handicaps at Stratford and Bangor at the end of last summer. Has been a touch disappointing since but it's possible the return to a sounder surface and refitting of a tongue tie will help.

Form: 264549

Forecasts

Got Grey (9/4), Luttrell Lad (4/1), Bluegrass (4/1), Givemefive (9/2), Schmilsson (13/2), Oslo (12/1), Well Educated (28/1)

Dan Skelton's GOT GREY looks nicely handicapped again if the refitting of a tongue tie and a return to likely quicker ground helps to spark a revival. Bluegrass has had a good season and is second choice ahead of Luttrell Lad.