NAP
Miss Farage looked as though she’d strip much fitter for her debut run at Ludlow in January, especially under less testing conditions, and she duly progressed as expected six months on, putting that debut experience to good use as she landed the odds in a Uttoxeter bumper. She looked suited by the step up to a full-distance bumper on that occasion, making the running and finishing well on top late on. This longer trip should suit now going hurdling and she is taken to make a successful debut in this sphere for the powerful Nicky Henderson yard.
Next Best
Secret Melody, who was 2 lb out of the handicap, returned to form out of the blue at Bangor after twelve months off in July, looking in control of things when an untidy jump at the last cost him the race, and he fully confirmed his return form at Market Rasen last time, going with zest and still in front when unseating his rider three from home. He would undoubtedly have gone close had he not departed on that occasion, and he can race from the same mark here, so if a definite player.
Each-way
Sadlermor showed clear promise in a bumper that wasn’t run to suit on debut and, following strong market support, built on that effort to get off the mark at the second attempt in a Huntingdon bumper last year, drawing clear early in the straight and looking very much the type to take well to hurdling. He has yet to prove that to be the case however, showing little to work with in his three starts over the sticks. Kim Baily has a good 17% strike rate with handicap hurdle debutants however, and Sadlermor showed in his bumper days that he is not devoid of ability, so improvement could very well be forthcoming now he is pitched into a handicap on better ground and with the application of a tongue strap.