Olly Murphy's two runners Bread And Butter and Bobby Socks (preferred in that order) both make appeal but another chance is given to THE WINSLOW BOY, who struggled to get competitive on his handicap debut in December but created a good impression when winning a Chepstow novice two starts ago and still has plenty of scope to progress from that performance.[Chris Wilson]
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Usually runs in better races than this and is well handicapped on form of last year's three consecutive seconds (2m3f-2m4f); ended 2024 with two below-par runs, though, and needs to be perked up by change of headgear.
Low-mileage 6yo who drew clear to win Chepstow novice (2m, good to soft) in November; subsequent handicap debut at Ascot (1m7f) was disappointing but he could have untapped potential over 2m4f and remains of interest.
Quite useful as a juvenile hurdler but became rather disappointing last year, albeit he made the frame on his last three appearances (2m-2m5f); returns from three-month break here; needs to up his game.
Dual novice winner (2m4f/2m1f) in 2022-23 season and remains lightly raced but has fitness to prove after 666-day absence; the betting market may point the way.
Showed the benefit of his wind op when winning three in a row in the autumn (2m3f-2m4f); had to settle for third off today's mark at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) last time but still ran well there and is likely to be in the shake-up again here.
Runner-up twice here (2m4f/3m) when cheekpieces were added in the autumn but two lesser efforts have followed and his chance probably depends on how well he responds to first-time blinkers today.
Easily won a weak novice hurdle in November, his second start for Evan Williams, but has been safely held in two subsequent handicap chases and now reverts to hurdling; others have more persuasive profiles.
Dual hurdle winner last season (3m/2m7f) but failed to build upon his very encouraging reappearance run when pulled up at Haydock in December and today's drop back in trip may not be ideal.
Placed over hurdles in Ireland last February (2m, heavy); below that form in two autumn maidens for Fergal O'Brien (2m/2m5f) but remains unexposed and is well worth a glance in the betting before this handicap debut.
Won over C&D and at Perth (2m4f) on good ground in summer 2023, and returned from long absence with good third at Leicester (1m7f, good to soft) in November (had wind op afterwards); there's a slight concern that today's conditions might be slower than he prefers but, nevertheless, he helps to give Olly Murphy a strong hand in this race.
Delivered on earlier promise when wide-margin winner of Cartmel maiden (2m6f, good to soft) last spring and, following a break, shaped quite well before weakening into fifth on handicap debut at Leicester (2m4f, heavy) in December; has possibilities here if that run brought him on.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
