Can Dan Skelton hope defy 531-day absence and come good again following wind surgery?

Only one winner in the last seven runnings has been rated lower than 115, and this year’s race looks under par with all but three of the 11-runner field below that threshold.

They include Don Hollow, although he broke his maiden over hurdles off an initial rating of 121 two seasons back having also won his bumper on debut. He then disappointed in two subsequent starts and has not been seen for 531 days, but returns here following wind surgery. We shall see if Dan Skelton has got him back.

Panhandle Slim and Guard The Moon make their handicap debuts. The former finished second to the 128-rated Cannock Park on his debut and got off the mark over hurdles at Sedgefield in December.

However, the Donald McCain-trained five-year-old will have to turn around form with Guard The Moon from their meeting at Bangor in February. The pair filled the places that day and Nigel Twiston-Davies’s runner is 4lb better off on that run. He got off the mark when last seen at Hexham in May, and Twiston-Davies has got off to a typically fast start this autumn, with a 29 per cent strike-rate last month.

Harjo returns to hurdles following a stint chasing last season which included a victory at Wincanton. His hurdles mark is 6lb lower than over fences and he doesn’t have a bad record after a break, with form figures of 241 off gaps of 50 days or more.
Race analysis by James Hill

Going news

Despite significant rainfall last week (49mm), a further 8mm on Sunday night and 9mm on Tuesday, the going was described as good to soft, good in places on Wednesday. There is a more settled but breezy outlook for raceday. The race will take place over approximately 50 yards shorter than the advertised distance due to rail movements.

What they say

Tom Bellamy, rider of Manorbank
He was disappointing last time but before that was set for a first-four finish before tipping up. He needs to step forward from that if he is to be competitive.

Evan Williams, trainer of Golden Whisky
We bought him to go point-to-pointing but he’s had setback after setback. This is very much a watching brief after such a long time off and hopefully he can pick up an amateur riders’ race further down the line.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Don Hollow
He’s been off a long time and we’ve done plenty with him but I expect him to sharpen up for this.

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to Nigel, trainer of Guard The Moon
The track and trip should suit him and we're looking forward to getting him started in handicap company.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Long Draw
He ran a lovely race at Worcester last time and going up a furlong in trip will help him too. He's gone up 12lb since his last win at Ffos Las in May, but he's still unexposed.

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Harjo
This is his prep run before he goes back over fences and we expect the stiff two and a half miles around there will play to his strengths.

Henry Oliver, trainer of Foveros
He had a few spins on the Flat in the summer but he wasn’t quite right when he ran badly at Hamilton last time. He’s consistent and won’t mind any dig in the ground.
Reporting by David Milnes

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