Book Your Celebration At westernhousehotel.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Pos	No.	Dr	Horse	Form	Jockey / Trainer	Age	Wgt	Best decimal odds
3rd	1	—	Kelvin Forlonge (G) FAV Promise in bumpers and maiden/novice hurdles prior to taking a sizeable step forward on handicap debut over C&D (heavy) last month, ridden clear after the last to beat Shoeshine Boy by 3½ lengths. Ma…	54-5513	P W Wadge L Russell & M Scudamore	6	76.2kg	4 3/1
5th	2	—	Piaff Bubbles (G) PT Off for nearly 2 years prior to last term but made the frame on 3 of his 4 starts during that campaign and reappearance third at Hexham was respectable. However, completely misfired back up in trip a…	344-3P5	Nathan Moscrop R Menzies	10	75.3kg	13 12/1
10th	3	—	Monsieur Le Fuzz (G) PT Much improved on second handicap start in first-time cheekpieces over C&D last spring, narrowly prevailing in a big-field handicap. Wasn't disgraced without headgear on return but looked rather labou…	1-46028	Ross Chapman R Menzies	7	73.5kg	9.50 17/2
1st	4	—	Shoeshine Boy (G) T Now 10 lb lower than when successful on soft ground at Hexham in October 2024 and shaped as though his turn may be near when chasing home Kelvin Forlonge over C&D on penultimate start. Departed 2 out…	2F1135-	Craig Nichol D W Whillans	10	72.1kg	6.50 11/2
9th	5	—	Gather Yourself (G) Irish raider who, though 0-9 in this sphere, produced one of his better efforts when third of 13 from 7 lb out of the handicap at Navan (25f, heavy) last month. Definite chance off his correct mark h…	04P539-	S Bowen C Collins	6	71.2kg	4.50 7/2
2nd	6	—	Maura Jeanne (M) PT Proved better than ever when doubling her tally over this C&D last February and stepped up on reappearance run when finding just one too good at Hexham in November. Failed to make an impact at Haydoc…	262526-	Alan Doyle I A Duncan	9	70.8kg	8.50 15/2
7th	7	—	Holly Bird (M) P Still a maiden but she posted creditable efforts in defeat the last twice, latterly finishing second in a 19.3f Catterick handicap (good). Pulled nicely clear of the third that day and each-way chanc…	5-53271	B S Hughes A M Thomson	7	69.4kg	8 7/1
4th	8	—	Better Be Definite (G) Off the mark over C&D in March 2024 and doubled his tally in a Hexham handicap last spring. By no means disgraced when fourth of 9 back from a break at Kelso (21f, good to soft) in November and, like…	10-441P	Jamie Hamilton N W Alexander	8	68kg	12 11/1
8th	9	—	Blue Indigo (G) Little impact in various disciplines and it's easy enough to look elsewhere, for all that he'll likely be better off now venturing down the handicap route.	P835FU	Edward Austin Gary Rutherford	6	66.2kg	51 50/1
6th	10	—	Nae Bother At A' (G) Showed little for Gary Rutherford and opposable starting out for his new yard following a 7-month absence (stable also represented by Better Be Definite).	P68/86P-	Bruce Lynn N W Alexander	8	64.4kg	34 33/1

Betting forecast: Kelvin Forlonge (3/1), Gather Yourself (7/2), Shoeshine Boy (11/2), Holly Bird (7/1), Maura Jeanne (15/2), Monsieur Le Fuzz (17/2), Better Be Definite (11/1), Piaff Bubbles (12/1), Nae Bother At A' (33/1), Blue Indigo (50/1)