BetGoodwin Supports The Bentswood Hub Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 4f 116y | 7 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 108

Runner-up twice prior to Wincanton blip but returned to form when third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (4/1) 41 days ago with hood reapplied, had every chance 2 out before being hampered close home. Remains of interest.

Form: 232283

Activist^v,t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 107| BF| C

7/1

Course winner who won at Fontwell in first-time visor last March and pulled up in 14-runner handicap hurdle at Fontwell (4/1 fav) 29 days ago, threatening briefly before fading. Tongue strap back on but remains to be seen if he fares better.

Form: 51-054P

Inferno Sacree¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 106| C

2/1

Three-time course winner. Runner-up in his last three handicap hurdles since November return, though without a win for 20 races. Second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Catterick (6/1) 19 days ago, doing all he could but collared in the dying strides. Threatening to come good from this sort of mark.

Form: 53-3222

Luwdvig²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 105

3/1

Showed improved form to get off the mark on his second handicap start when successful in handicap hurdle at Lingfield Park (13 ran, 8/1) 21 days ago. Up 8lb and has more to do here.

Form: 46-7341

Bongo Man⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 104

20/1

Yet to win and has gone backwards since finishing third behind pair of subsequent winners in a maiden last May, tailed off last of 3 on handicap debut at Wincanton (9/2) 67 days ago despite settling better without a hood. Plenty to prove after a break but does have James Bowen back in the saddle.

Form: 6/52-383

Macari³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 99| CD

9/2

Successful on latest hurdle start over C&D in April. Fourth of 6 in 2m Flat handicap at Kempton (11/1) 33 days ago, ran respectably without proving his stamina for the trip. Returns to hurdles where he has twice won at this course but this is a better race.

Form: P42541-

Our Papa Smurf^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 97| C

4/1

Resumed after a year off with a modest effort at Fontwell before improving when fitted with cheekpieces (retained), won 7-runner handicap hurdle at this course (11/2) 14 days ago, though the run of things was very much in his favour. Up 3lb but stepping up in trip and could have more to offer.

Form: 561-61

Forecasts

Luwdvig (5/2), Inferno Sacree (4/1), Dirty Den (4/1), Macari (5/1), Our Papa Smurf (6/1), Activist (8/1), Bongo Man (20/1)

DIRTY DEN has proved consistent when hooded over hurdles and he can gain a deserved success. Three-time course winner Inferno Sacree has finished runner-up in his last three handicap hurdles and looks threatening from this mark, while Our Papa Smurf is respected stepping up in trip, having won at this course a fortnight ago when fitted with cheekpieces.