GC Rickards Ltd Handicap Hurdle

Won Cork handicap (2m3f, soft) on final start for Stuart Crawford 11 months ago; weakened quickly on stable debut in Chepstow Grade 2 (about 2m3f) in October before being well held in two chases in December; weakened again over 2m5f in Kempton's Lanzarote (good) last time but should do better given this significant drop in grade.

Good second in valuable Newbury bumper two years ago; raced freely before a solid third on his handicap debut at Aintree (2m1f, good to soft) in November and that trait was again in evidence when fifth of ten at Huntingdon (2m, soft) the following month; off since and he could do with settling down stepping up in trip but he's unexposed in this sphere.

Frequent front-runner; doubled his tally when narrowly making a successful stable debut in Southwell novice (about 3m, good) in October 2024; bettered that form when second at Warwick (3m2f, good to soft) in December but his hurdling lacked fluency when unable to justify favouritism at Market Rasen (2m7f, soft) last month; this forecast better ground should suit but the drop in trip asks a question; will probably look to make this a test of stamina.

Second of 12 over 2m5f at Kempton just over a year ago but he hasn't posed a serious threat since, including at about 2m on his last four starts; wasn't disgraced in a valuable event at Windsor (strong handicap form) last time, however, and he's undoubtedly well handicapped these days.

1-8 over hurdles; ran well behind revitalised opponent here (2m, good to soft) in December but wasn't in the same form at Ascot (1m7f, soft) when last seen a fortnight later; faded on her only previous start over 2m5f but that did come after a 237-day break; not fully exposed.