William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Pos	No.	Dr	Horse	Form	Jockey / Trainer	Age	Wgt	Best decimal odds
—	1	—	Al Gasparo (G) Very useful hurdler in 2024/25. Promising third in beginners chase on final start for Gavin Cromwell last spring. Returns to Rules having won all 5 of his completed point starts for present yard (lat…	1111-F1	Mr Lucas Murphy K Woollacott	7	76.2kg	13 12/1 Betfa… 21 Paddy… 21 Sky B… 21
—	2	—	East India Express (G) C&D winner who sent off favourite when falling in 2025 renewal of this race. Better than ever to go close in valuable handicap at Windsor on New Year's Day. Lost all chance when well backed in Martin…	FP920P-	Freddie Gordon N J Henderson	7	73.9kg	6 5/1 Paddy… 9.50 Betfa… 9.50 Sky B… 9
—	3	—	John Barbour (G) T Steadily-progressive sort who's won 3 of his 6 handicap starts. Probably found the ground quicker than ideal when grinding out an end-of-season victory at Wincanton (21f). Should find conditions more…	1212P1-	Liam Harrison F O'Brien	7	71.7kg	9 8/1 Sky B… 10 Paddy… 10 Betfa… 9.50
—	4	—	Morning Mayhem (G) P Another success story for up-and-coming yard, landing a fifth success in Cartmel Cup in August. Continued his relentless progress when runner-up in pair of very competitive handicaps since, latterly …	444122	Kielan Woods Nick Scholfield	5	70.8kg	11 10/1 Betfa… 12 Paddy… 12 Sky B… 12
—	5	—	La Pinsonniere (M) P Useful mare. Runner-up in competitive listed novice sole previous start at this track. Best effort last season when 3 lengths third in competitive handicap at Kempton (21f) in March. Returns to hurdl…	332-934	James Bowen N J Henderson	6	70.3kg	13 12/1 Sky B… 13 Paddy… 13 Betfa… 11
—	6	—	Frontier Prince (G) T Improved to finish third in a course novice handicap (2m, heavy) in November. Didn't better that form in the remainder of 2025/6 season. Enhanced his good record fresh when winning on return at Perth…	5334-01	Jack Hogan F O'Brien	5	68kg	11 10/1 Sky B… 11 Betfa… 11 Paddy… 11
—	7	—	Handlethekettle (G) Lightly-raced front runner who has an excellent strike rate. Again ran well fresh/impressed with his jumping when runner-up in his bid to make it 4-4 at Worcester last month. That form has taken a fe…	51/311-2	G Sheehan Jamie Snowden	7	68kg	9 8/1 Sky B… 11 Betfa… 11 Paddy… 11
—	8	—	Sunny South West (G) H Useful bumper scorer who made a winning debut in the sphere at Cork (17f) last July. Still relatively unexposed over this trip and makes just his second handicap hurdle start following a breakthrough…	5/11462-	Michael Kenneally Edward F Power	6	67.6kg	5.50 9/2 Paddy… 4.50 Betfa… 4.50 Sky B… 4.50
—	9	—	Can Happen (G) T Resumed progress to make it 2 wins from 3 hurdle starts with a smooth-travelling display (won by ¾ length) under this claimer at Navan (21f) last time. Races off an 8 lb higher mark on British debut …	3P0-191	Miss Georgie Benson P Flood	6	66.7kg	15 14/1 Sky B… 19 Paddy… 19 Betfa… 15
—	10	—	Cloonainra (M) P Back to her fairly useful best when runner-up in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f) in August. Underlined her inconsistency back over fences at Listowel the following month. Looks to have a bit to fi…	45-0729	Paddy Hanlon J C McConnell	7	65.3kg	26 25/1 Sky B… 41 Paddy… 41 Betfa… 34
—	11	—	Snatch A Glance (G) Bumper/maiden hurdle winner at Ludlow. Shaped with promise to hit the frame in a couple of summer handicaps at Market Rasen/Stratford. Likely found a busy spell catching up with him on latest start i…	1F3-343	Fern O'Brien F O'Brien	6	64.4kg	26 25/1 Sky B… 17 Betfa… 17 Paddy… 17
—	12	—	Crooked Path (G) Third behind Morning Mayhem in solid handicap at Market Rasen (17f). Career best when convincingly winning a weaker event at Fontwell (19f) 8 days ago. Only his third hurdle start for yard with a fin…	2331-31	J J Burke James Owen	4	64.4kg	9 8/1 Betfa… 5.50 Paddy… 5.50 Sky B… 5.50
—	13	—	Norman Fletcher (G) V Runner-up at this fixture in 2024. Now on a very handy mark following a winless spell stretching back to that season. Again shaped as though ready to capitalise when well-backed second at Newton Abbo…	725322	Jamie Brace N & W Twiston-Davies	7	64.4kg	9 8/1 Sky B… 8.50 Betfa… 8.50 Paddy… 8.50

Betting forecast: Sunny South West (9/2), East India Express (5/1), John Barbour (8/1), Handlethekettle (8/1), Norman Fletcher (8/1), Crooked Path (8/1), Morning Mayhem (10/1), Frontier Prince (10/1), La Pinsonniere (12/1), Al Gasparo (12/1), Can Happen (14/1), Snatch A Glance (25/1), Cloonainra (25/1)