Heath Farm Meats Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 5m 53.41s

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Selected odds by:

Kitesurfer¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 113

11/2

French juvenile winner in 2022 and successful twice last summer, latterly in 11-runner handicap at Worcester (23f, good) in August. Proved to be a disappointment at Huntingdon (25f, good) 6 weeks later and hasn't been seen since. Market check advised.

Form: P9-1F17

The Bold Thady^p,t¹⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 108

4/1

Fortunate to double his tally at Worcester (23f) in September and very much caught the eye when fourth of 9 at Ascot (24.4f, good to soft) 5 months ago, subject of a stewards inquiry having been left with too much to do. Returns 3 lb higher and he looks a fascinating contender.

Form: P36124

Swift Jet³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R T Phillips| OR: 107

13/2

Beaten a long way on Rules debut in an Exeter bumper but showed fair form on first 2 starts in maiden hurdles, including when third of 7 over C&D in February. Faced stiff task at Uttoxeter last month but better anticipated sent handicapping returned to this venue.

Form: 49-536

Doctor Midas²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 107

5/1

Below expectations on sole outing in bumpers but improved on hurdling debut form when second in 7-runner C&D maiden in February, staying on having been hampered 3 out. Failed by a long chalk to repeat that on yard debut last month but can get back on the up sent handicapping.

Form: 5523

Thankyourluckystar³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 107| C

7/4

Recorded second hurdles success at Worcester last summer and didn't shape badly when third back from a break at Southwell in November. However, he failed to match that on next 3 starts and didn't look much pacier up nearly a mile in trip at Bangor recently. Considered dropped in grade.

Form: 136643

Mikimoto^v³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 105

11/1

Successful only start in bumpers for Henry Daly. Promise over hurdles for new yard, runner-up first 2 starts and ran one of his better races fitted with more severe headgear after 3 months off when third of 8 in maiden at Market Rasen (20.6f, good) recently. Could well build on that.

Form: 22-4PP3

Non-Runners

Butler's Brief²⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 10

T: A Ralph J: David Noonan

Gasmani²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: David Dennis J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Thankyourluckystar (7/4), The Bold Thady (4/1), Doctor Midas (5/1), Gasmani (5/1), Kitesurfer (11/2), Swift Jet (13/2), Mikimoto (11/1), Butler's Brief (16/1)

Plenty in with a squeak but the suggestion is DOCTOR MIDAS, who offered little on yard debut last time but had gone close in a C&D maiden the time before and could well build on that now sent down the handicap route. The main threat may emerge from The Bold Thady, who very much caught the eye and was the subject of a stewards inquiry at Ascot when last seen 5 months ago. Swift Jet and Mikimoto can fight out third.