Church House Investment Management Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 5m 11.4s

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Selected odds by:

Fingal's Hill^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: P Atkinson| OR: 123

11/4

Recorded a 4-timer in handicaps in 2023 and wasted no time casting aside a rare lesser effort at Newcastle when landing 6-runner handicap at Newcastle 3 weeks ago. Fluent jumping will stand him in good stead and 5 lb rise perfectly fair.

Form: 356301

Imperial Data^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 120| CD

7/2

C&D winner who has gradually worked his way back to best following 8 months off, second of 16 to Starlyte in a C&D handicap a month ago. Hold-up tactics not as easy to employ in this small field but he's likely to give it another good go.

Form: 124872

Foster'sisland^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 115| CD

5/1

C&D winner but thirteen runs since last success in 2023. Cheekpieces on for first time, when respectable fifth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (21.2f, good) and he's well weighted these days.

Form: 045785

Starlyte^p,t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109| CD

6/1

Rejuvenated in recent starts, bagging back-to-back handicaps over C&D and at Newcastle in November and strong at the finish when improving again for latest win back there a month ago, proving 4¼ lengths too strong for Imperial Data. Clealry in fine form but 7 lb rise asks for more.

Form: P21151

Magic Wave²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 108| D

15/2

Lightly-raced 2m4f hurdles winner. Off 9 months before an encouraging sixth of 17 in handicap at Wetherby in February but was brushed aside easily back there 4 weeks later.

Form: 12P-060

Sauce Of Life¹³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 107

4/1

Dual-bumper winner back in 2021. Lightly raced since, though stepped up on reappearance when landing 8-runner handicap at Doncaster in December (19.4f). Slight step up in trip can only suit and he's not yet exposed.

Form: 123/8-41

Forecasts

Fingal's Hill (11/4), Imperial Data (7/2), Sauce Of Life (4/1), Foster'sisland (5/1), Starlyte (6/1), Magic Wave (15/2)

SAUCE OF LIFE has had his share of issues since his bumper wins but he got it right over hurdles at Doncaster in December and a 6 lb rise looks perfectly fair on his return to action with this trip sure to suit. Fingal's Hill jumped really well reverting to positive tactics last time and is feared most, ahead of recent C&D 1-2 Starlyte and Imperial Data.