Happy Retirement Maurice & Anne Barnes Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Pos	No.	Dr	Horse	Form	Jockey / Trainer	Age	Wgt	Best decimal odds
—	1	—	Be The Difference (G) Completed the hat-trick in decisive fashion at Sedgefield in December but he ran no sort of a race at Ayr recently and he's hard to recommend on the back of that display.	11163P	Joe Williamson P A Kirby	10	76.2kg	13 12/1
5th	2	—	Kool Raoul (G) P Matched the fair form he showed in bumpers when placing first 3 starts over hurdles. Hasn't improved for the switch to handicaps, though, first-time cheekpieces need to have a positive impact.	223578	Gregor Walkingshaw L Russell & M Scudamore	6	76.2kg	5 4/1
1st	3	—	Gardener (G) T Confirmed positive start he's made for current connections and capitalised on reduced mark when winning 14-runner event over C&D last time by neck from Another High Five. Was well positioned that day…	3311-52	Charlie Maggs M E Sowersby	10	75.3kg	5.50 9/2
3rd	4	—	Highbury Hill (M) Opened her account in a 19.5f Chepstow handicap in November but disappointed when stepped up in trip at Doncaster last time; stamina was not the issue there, and this drop back in distance on a stiff…	5-23715	Murray Dodd N J Hawke	5	74.4kg	5 4/1
—	5	—	Tantivy Vavoom (M) Pulled Up Successful on first of 2 starts in Irish points and has shown signs of more ability on last 2 starts over hurdles. Will be suited by the stamina test that this track often provides and looks the type…	1-P764	Theo Gillard Ruth Jefferson	6	73kg	9 8/1
4th	6	—	Our Laura B (M) FAV Winless since May 2023 but put up a far more encouraging effort when 4 lengths fifth of 14 to Gardener at this course last time. Well treated if able to build on that effort, but just as likely to ru…	PP3P54-	R P McLernon B Haslam	8	72.1kg	4.50 7/2
—	7	—	Wise Move (G) Pulled Up H Multiple winning pointer who would have a good chance based on of his ¾-length second of 10 to Brookside La in a novice handicap at Wetherby in December. Hasn't been in the same form since and was th…	45254P	Jonathon Bewley G Bewley	8	70.8kg	9.50 17/2
—	8	—	Eric Carmen (G) Pulled Up PT Front runner who likes to dominate on testing ground and gained a third success of the season in a 6-runner handicap chase at Market Rasen in February, but he struggled away from the mud last time an…	131126	Benjamin Macey G Hanmer	10	69.4kg	12 11/1
2nd	9	—	My Boy Christy (G) P Little impact in maiden or handicap hurdles and faces an uphill task to be competitive here. Cheekpieces back on.	40572-2	Peter Kavanagh Ewan Whillans	6	66.7kg	23 22/1
6th	10	—	Blended Stealth (G) B Temperamental sort who won at Hexham in May but has largely been let down by his attitude since and can't be considered a reliable betting proposition. Blinkers back on and races from 7 lb out of the…	F54P54	James Best Lizzie Quinlan	9	64.4kg	41 40/1

Betting forecast: Our Laura B (7/2), Highbury Hill (4/1), Kool Raoul (4/1), Gardener (9/2), Tantivy Vavoom (8/1), Wise Move (17/2), Eric Carmen (11/1), Be The Difference (12/1), My Boy Christy (22/1), Blended Stealth (40/1)