N&L Franklin Developments Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 6m 10.4s

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Selected odds by:

Tigerbythetail^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 119| D

9/4

Didn't need to improve to get off the mark in 7-runner maiden hurdle at Catterick (25.3f, good to soft) last month and far from disgraced when ridden by an amateur to finish third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (25f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Claims with regular jockey back aboard.

Form: 234713

Feivel^t1,v¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: S Edmunds| OR: 116| D

7/2

Dual hurdles winner last season and finished second in the Southern National on reappearance in November. Hinted at a return to that sort of form back over hurdles in first-time visor (retained) latest but paid the price for overly aggressive tactics. Interesting back off last winning hurdles mark.

Form: 1P-28P3

Enjoy D'allen⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 115| D

15/2

Veteran on a losing run that stretches back to 2021, never travelled well on final start for Ciaran Murphy when seventh of 15 in a chase at Punchestown (24.9f) 52 days ago. Looks to have plenty on his plate back over smaller obstacles on stable debut.

Form: 674357

Coastal Rock⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 114

15/8

Opened account at Uttoxeter (19.9f) in November and got back to winning ways in 4-runner handicap hurdle at Bangor (23.2f, heavy) last month, the emphasis on stamina playing to his strengths, despite some sloppy jumping. Lightly-raced sort should appreciate slightly longer trip and merits respect.

Form: 34-51P1

Rockadenn^p1,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam Harrison| T: M Comley| OR: 113

15/2

Useful hurdler/chaser at his best for previous yards but has yet to shine for current connections, going backwards from his reappearance when well-held at Fontwell (21.8f, heavy) 32 days ago. First-time cheekpieces need to spark a revival.

Form: 34/D8-65

Forecasts

Coastal Rock (15/8), Tigerbythetail (9/4), Feivel (7/2), Rockadenn (15/2), Enjoy D'allen (15/2)

A contest lacking in depth and numbers, and it may pay to side with FEIVEL who has slipped back down to his latest winning hurdles mark having not been seen to best effect under an overly aggressive ride last time. Dual hurdles winner Coastal Rock is the least exposed of the field and could well improve again, while Tigerbythetail has largely run with credit this season and should be in the mix again.