Half Moon, Clyst St Mary Handicap Hurdle

Two-time winner over hurdles on good to soft, at around 2m (acts on a sound surface); stays 2m5f; some way below his best since last spring; well treated on form of almost a year ago if bouncing back but has that to prove.

C&D winner last November (good to soft; held up), when 15lb lower; also held up when showing marginal improvement to score at Wincanton (3m, good) latest; up another 6lb but looks a leading player.

0-14 under rules; sliding in the weights in four starts for this trainer and those efforts suggest he'll need a further favour or two from the handicapper to break his duck.

0-11 (placed twice at Taunton over 2m3f); inconsistent but better efforts would give him an each-way chance from this mark, if seeing out this longer trip.

Broke his duck over hurdles at the 15th attempt over C&D (good to firm) last October (held up); well below that level next time, when dropped back in trip (heavy) and beaten almost 9l at Wincanton by Square Du Roule latest (3m, good); more needed but not written off.