Wrexfest Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:41 | Winning time: 4m 44.25s

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Selected odds by:

Presentandcounting³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120| CD

10/3

Useful chaser at his best but isn't the force of old and has been plying his trade in hunter chases of late. Not disgraced when third in a 4-runner hunter chase at Stratford (21f) in May, finding it barely enough of a test. Mark is falling but this looks a tough ask back over hurdles.

Form: P1330-3

Donnie Azoff^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 119| D

5/2

Bounced right back to form when successful on reappearance at Uttoxeter and backed that up with an eye-catching third in a class 2 Market Rasen handicap hurdle (20.6f) last month, finishing with running left having been unsuited by emphasis on speed. Solid claims back down in class.

Form: 257P-13

Lipa K^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 112| CD

7/4

Effective at this course with 3 wins here. Won a 6-runner handicap hurdle over this C&D (15/8) 28 days ago, staying on to lead dying strides. Cheekpieces back on today and can go well again.

Form: B546-21

Finisk River^p,t²²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111| CD

16/1

Veteran course winner looked to have gone off the boil when sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (14/1) 220 days ago. Brian Hughes partners the stable's other runner and it remains to be seen whether he can recapture his form following a lengthy absence.

Form: 321546-

Wudya^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 108

12/1

Fair maiden hurdle winner for Gordon Elliott last year (sold for only 7,500 gns) but offered little on sole outing for Tjade Collier at Aintree in May. Has changed hands again and has something to prove on stable debut.

Form: 35172-P

Evenwood Sonofagun^p,t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 106

9/1

Won 3 of last 5 starts over hurdles, including the second leg of a quickfire double when winning by a nose in 7-runner handicap at Cartmel (15/8) 37 days ago, travelling strongly and jumping fluently. In fine heart and should give another good account back down in trip.

Form: 6144-11

Forecasts

Lipa K (7/4), Donnie Azoff (5/2), Presentandcounting (10/3), Evenwood Sonofagun (9/1), Wudya (12/1), Finisk River (16/1)

DONNIE AZOFF shaped with considerable promise when third in a Class 2 hurdle at Market Rasen last time, finishing strongly having been unsuited by the emphasis on speed and he could be the one the beat back down in class. Course specialist Lipa K, a winner over C&D last month, is feared most with cheekpieces reapplied. In-form Evenwood Sonofagun completes the shortlist after back-to-back wins at Cartmel in May.