Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:59 | Winning time: 5m 6.91s

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Selected odds by:

Della Casa Lunga^p,t⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 138

25/1

Better than ever when finishing second behind Kateira in a Kempton listed race before scoring readily (on back of a wind op) in a handicap there next time. Underperformed in Grade 2 company at Doncaster last time but merits respect back in a handicap.

Form: 1P-6215

Rambo T¹³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 133| CD

15/2

Won this race from a 3 lb lower mark last season and made an encouraging start over fences in the autumn, making it second time lucky in a Warwick maiden. Let down by his jumping kept to chasing last time but not discounted returned to hurdling after a 4-month break.

Form: 981-215

Chasing Fire⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 131| C

11/1

Won over fences at this meeting last season but hasn't troubled the judge in 3 outings this time, including when reverted to hurdling last time. Has work to do.

Form: 421-7P9

Bold Light⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127| D

10/1

Has enjoyed a good season, taking a Kelso maiden before making a successful handicap debut at Musselburgh (19.8f) on New Year's Day, Back on the up when scoring again at Kelso (20.9f, good to soft) at the start of March and he's of significant interest once more.

Form: 313131

Serious Operator^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127| D

25/1

Won twice last season and was handed a particularly difficult task on his return from almost a year off in a big-field Aintree handicap last time. Market should guide as to what is expected this time.

Form: 91510-0

Florida Dreams¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 124| BF

10/3

Most reliable sort acquitted himself with plenty of credit again when runner-up in a 10-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (21.4f, good) 13 days ago. Leading claims once more.

Form: 155752

Hidden History⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| D

10/11

Justified support to make a successful debut for the Skeltons (formerly with Chris Gordon) in a traditionally strong Uttoxeter handicap last month. Quicker ground is a bit of an unknown but he's lightly raced and still looks ahead of the asssessor.

Form: 1/31-721

Non-Runners

Fourofakind¹¹⁷

Weight: 10-6| Age: 6

T: Lizzie Quinlan J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Hidden History (10/11), Florida Dreams (10/3), Rambo T (15/2), Bold Light (10/1), Chasing Fire (11/1), Fourofakind (20/1), Serious Operator (25/1), Della Casa Lunga (25/1)

HIDDEN HISTORY got the better of Aintree handicap winner Wellington Arch at Uttoxeter last time and a 7 lb rise shouldn't be enough to stop him from following up granted he copes with the quicker conditions. Florida Dreams rarely runs a poor race and should be in the mix once again, with the likeable novice Bold Light also shortlisted having gone up 4 lb for his latest Kelso success.