A typically competitive handicap over 2m which will be frenetic from the off. Three of the top yards are represented with Nicky Henderson, Philip Hobbs and Alan King all having interesting runners and it promises to be a competitive heat.
Clova Island comes into the race on the back of a fall at Newbury in February and would have been second in that race behind Paul Nicholls' Indian Blood. The eventual winner looks a progressive type and would have followed up only for a unfortunate fall at the last obstacle when still cruising under Timmy Murphy. Clova Island's trainer Philip Hobbs knows how to maximise his horses chances and if this one's confidence has not been dented after that incident then he will go close to winning. He is very unexposed and inexperienced with this being only his sixth career start and it looks like this faster ground could be in his favour. Two starts ago in December, he won a novice hurdle by six lengths and showed a good turn of foot that day. His mark of 120 looks lenient and with his stable still in winning form, he may prove the handicapper wrong.
Stellino is an interesting runner for Nicky Henderson and it looks like the trainer is still learning about this French-bred import. His last run behind stablemate Dave's Dream was his first outing for 10 months and he will come on for that run. Before that race, Stellino was well supported in the market for the Totesport Hurdle at Newbury in March before the race was abandoned due to adverse weather conditions. It is interesting that he has been given a mark of 130 considering he has only had six starts for his current stable and the handicapper could be overrating his chances. He may well improve for the quicker ground and he has the services of Barry Geraghty to aid his cause. If he has come on for his reappearance and does not find his current handicap mark beyond him, he will run a big race.
Izita Star has been in good form over this distance of late, albeit down in grade, and is on for a hat-trick. She has gone up 9lbs in the weights since her last start, where she won convincingly by four lengths with a previous winner behind in second. Annabelle King's runner has obviously appreciated the quicker gound and this faster surface should improve her chances. However, she does look vulnerable up in grade and with the top stables having fancied runners, she may have to settle for a place.
Arctic Ben represents Henry Daly and Richard Johnson and has a good chance based on his last run. He ran second at Uttoxeter in March on softer ground and travelled well throughout but did not find a great deal when asked for maximum effort. That effort was far from a disgrace and a mark of 112 looks fair considering he has only had five runs.
Norman The Great is Alan King's only runner but he has to put a poor performance behind him. On his best form he has a chance to go close but he may find the ground a bit too quick for him. Acambo, David Pipe's runner, has been out of sorts for a while and has to put his poor run at Cheltenham firmly out of his mind if he is to run well here. He looks up against it.
Selections: 1st - Clova Island, 2nd - Izita Star, 3rd - Stellino.
Result: 1st - Izita Star, 11/2, 2nd - Well Disguised, 9/1, 3rd - Norman The Great, 7/1.
This looked a very tricky race to solve before the off but Izita Star ran out a very impressive winner and duly racked up three consecutive wins. Coming down to the second-last hurdle, there was many in with chances as most were travelling well within themselves. Izita Star was always prominent under Tom Scudamore and kicked on heading to the last where she pinged the flight and sprinted clear to a nine-length success. Well Disguised ran well in second ahead of Norman The Great, who had every chance but was found wanting when the winner went on. Favourite Clova Island ran on to finish fourth but was ultimately disappointing for Tom O'Brien as she was one of the first under pressure and jumped sloppily but could win a race over further on this ground. Stellino was on the bridle for a long way and looked the likely winner two out but found very little for pressure and has something to prove. Arctic Ben was very disappointing under Richard Johnson and probably wants softer ground.
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