KLF Insurance Brokers Invitational Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 7f 174y | 6 Runners | Turf

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Selected odds by:

Prince De Juilley^b⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 12-7| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 100| CD

8-y-o who comes here firmly at the top of his game, confirming promise of his 2 runner-up efforts in a headgear switch when landing 7-runner handicap hurdle at Stratford (22f) 5 days ago, driven clear. Shortlisted in bid to supplement his victory in this race 12 months ago under a penalty.

Form: 787221

Tankardstown Diva⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 96

Jukebox Jury mare who was quickly found her feet for new yard, building on her good Warwick second when convincingly bagging 12-runner handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (23.1f) 9 days ago, quickening clear. Bold bid anticipated under a 6 lb penalty.

Form: 8-52721

Katana^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: R Stephens| OR: 97

Improved second on handicap debut/final run for Nicky Henderson at Worcester (2m, good to soft) in May. Again found just one too good in a maiden over the same C&D on first run for new yard the following month, but badly out of sorts since.

Form: 22PP66

Touchwoodexpress²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 96| D

Chase winner last autumn who failed to complete on final 2 starts in that sphere. However, found the return to smaller obstacles liberating when scoring on return from 7 months off in 5-runner Newton Abbot handicap (26.5f) 24 days ago. Reportedly bled then but big shout with a repeat.

Form: 124FF-1

Arctic Angel¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Isabel Williams| T: Evan Williams| OR: 88

Well backed and improved for increased emphasis on stamina when landing a 9-runner handicap at Newton Abbot (26.5f) at the start of June. Absent since pulling up at Cartmel (22f) later that month but it's far too soon to be writing her off.

Form: 0344-1P

Needtoknow^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: Joe Ponting| OR: 68

Placed on first of 3 starts in Irish points. Little promise in 3 qualifying runs over hurdles and sent off at 100/1, showed only a little more with cheekpieces enlisted when plugging on fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Fontwell (21.8f) 20 days ago. Further increase in trip needs to spark progress.

Form: 6-P4765

Forecasts

Prince De Juilley (7/4), Touchwoodexpress (9/4), Tankardstown Diva (5/2), Arctic Angel (8/1), Katana (20/1), Needtoknow (66/1)

Just the six runners but a trio of last-time-out winners in opposition make for an intriguing contest. TANKARDSTOWN DIVA was arguably the most impressive of them on just her third start for Tom Ellis at Market Rasen last week and is fancied to make a bold bid to follow up under a penalty. Last year's winner Prince de Juilley did the job well himself at Stratford 5 days ago and is next best, ahead of Newton Abbot scorer Touchwoodexpress.