Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Progressed again on last three starts, winning two of them (good to soft); moving up to 3m at this track proved an excellent fit three weeks ago when he mostly had a clear lead before striding on again smoothly in closing stages; up another 9lb but could also prove too hot for today's rivals.

10yo who's not the force of old; down the weights and this race is a drop in class, but he needs to improve on this season's form nevertheless.

Largely progressive prior to bleeding from the nose on his final start last season (February) and he did not show much when pulled up again here in November, albeit in a top 3m2f handicap chase (22-1); this is his first hurdle race since October 2024 and there are plenty of reasons to believe he's well handicapped if all is well with him.

Won seasonal/handicap debut at Newton Abbot (extended 2m6f, good to soft) in October; good C&D third (soft) next time but a flop as favourite at Doncaster (3m, good) in December when last seen; needs to resume improvement.

Ridden last nine starts by William Maggs; rarely seen on soft ground; six-time winner, most recently last May; good placed efforts at about 3m four times in a row in October-December, before he failed to show in a Pertemps qualifier at Musselburgh (10-1) nearly seven weeks ago; best form this term was over C&D, so he's not entirely ruled out.