Brendon Soper Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:42 | Winning time: 6m 45.02s

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Selected odds by:

Spitalfield²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111

9/4

Strong-travelling sort who was successful from a 9 lb lower mark at Ffos Las (23.9f) last spring and returned from an absence in good order, again finding only one too good in a C&D handicap 26 days ago. Definite claims provided he continues to keep the errors at bay.

Form: 7F74-22

Sam's Amour⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 110

7/1

Successful 3 times in 2024, including a double in novice/selling company in October. However, hit with significant rise in weights on return from 7 months off and never threatened when fourth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Fontwell (21.8f, good) 56 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 16211-4

Halifax^p,t²⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Conor Ring| T: G Harris| OR: 109

17/2

Won 3m Kempton handicap hurdle last May and largely in good form after. Had excuses on account of the drop in trip when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (21f) in October and this sort of test much more up his street back from 9 months off.

Form: 323554-

Pirates' Tale^b1⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Houlihan| T: C Honour| OR: 109

33/1

Fair winner at around 2m for Jimmy Frost who had fallen twice in points and that seemed to have a negative impact on his hurdling when pulled up for new yard here (18.5f) in May. Steps up significantly in trip now and interesting to see if blinkers can restore his focus.

Form: 2PPFF-P

Impecunious¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down| OR: 105

13/8

Quirky sort who landed a gamble at Chepstow (19.5f) in April and held form well in defeat since, second of 4 in handicap hurdle at this course (21.6f, good) 16 days ago, running on behind a positively ridden winner. Not ruled out tackling longest trip to date.

Form: 0013-42

Dorrells Pierji^p²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Summersby| OR: 105

22/1

Veteran who was a multiple winner over hurdles earlier in his career. Arrived fit from points but he failed to make an impact when eighth of 10 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (good) 26 days ago and his record under Rules for present stable is an uninspiring one. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 822-328

Dear Ralphy^b,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 97| D

13/2

Consistent sort who filled runners-up spot for fourth consecutive start at Huntingdon (25f) in May. Went for a long way as if still in good form when sixth in a C&D handicap latest and no surprise to see him give another good account.

Form: 32-2226

Forecasts

Impecunious (13/8), Spitalfield (9/4), Dear Ralphy (13/2), Sam's Amour (7/1), Halifax (17/2), Dorrells Pierji (22/1), Pirates' Tale (33/1)

SPITALFIELD has returned from a break in good order, shaping well in second having been held up a race run at a steady gallop over C&D 26 days ago. He holds obvious claims on that evidence provided he continues to keep the errors at bay. Dear Ralphy is a consistent operator on the whole and feared, with Impecunious also worth a second look.