At The Races App Expert Tips Conditional Jockeys' Training Series Handicap Hurdle (Part Of The REI)

Close third at Ludlow three runs ago (2m5f, good) came in a falsely run affair; didn't really last out over shorter at Taunton on Tuesday, but ability definitely lurks and this return to 2m looks the way to go for now.

Not the only one for whom the drop back in trip looks advisable on recent evidence, and although still winless on soft or worse, he does act on ground this slow; remains above any mark ever defied, however.

Either or both of the extended 2m3f and second run back after a long absence might have been at fault for last month's Fontwell failure; preceding near-miss off just 1lb higher would be as well as he's ever run, however, and he enters calculations in a weak race.

Now 22lb lower than for his British debut a year ago, finally shaping as if down to a mark he could win off when 6l fourth over an extended 2m3f here last month (soft); this race looks a fair bit easier.

Deep ground and a strong pace to aim at proved just the ticket when landing another C&D 0-105 in December 2022; interesting to see what tactic is employed today, a rare crack at front-running having got him back on track at Fontwell latest.