'Is 120 is a nice mark? Hopefully, he's better than that' - analysis and trainer quotes for fascinating Ffos Las handicap

This is a fascinating handicap featuring a clutch of lightly raced potential improvers against some rock-solid established performers.

If there is a horse in the race well ahead of his mark it is likely to be the unbeaten Rosscahill, who graduates to handicaps with an official rating of 120.

The £70,000 purchase in December 2023 has won his two starts over hurdles, both at Ffos Las, in good style. The step up to 3m is likely to bring further improvement, and he is proven in the Welsh mud.

Andy Amo, who finished second to Rosscahill in a maiden hurdle in October, has since won at Uttoxeter and has a rating of 115.

Although it’s hard to assess the leniency or otherwise of his opening mark with any degree of accuracy, the overwhelming feeling is that Rosscahill could prove ahead of the game. Now he has to prove it.

One Big Bang, with several excellent efforts in fiercely contested handicaps already behind him, will be no pushover.

He was noted doing his best work at the finish when fourth to highly progressive Strackan at Cheltenham last time and will enjoy the deep ground.

Mahland, a course-and-distance winner, failed to reproduce his Ffos Las form last time out at Bangor in a 0-130 also won by Strackan. It would be no surprise to see him bounce back.

Things didn’t quite pan out for Madaket when a well-backed third to Hermino AA at Newbury two outings ago in November. He ran no sort of race subsequently at Chepstow, but retains scope for progress off his current mark.

Course winner Up For Parol has a wealth of experience in contests of this nature. He was running off 8lb higher when a highly creditable third in Kempton’s Lanzarote Hurdle 12 months ago and comes firmly into calculations on that run. He looks fairly treated, will like the ground and appears to hold strong each-way claims.

West To The Bridge may be into the veteran stage, but he retains his enthusiasm and is unlikely to be too far away unless Rosscahill really is a handicap blot.

What they say

Sam Thomas, trainer of Stolen Silver
He’s lost his way since the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last season. We’re on something of a recovery mission with him at the moment. We want him to enjoy himself out there and hopefully recapture some form.

Dan Skelton, trainer of West To The Bridge
It's a 0-140, which is the lowest grade he can get in. I don't feel like he's particularly well handicapped as an older horse, but he does run consistently, so you'd like to think he has an each-way chance.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Up For Parol
He ran well on his comeback at Sandown to finish runner-up to Henri The Second in a Pertemps qualifier. We had the third, Super Survivor, who has won since, so the form is good. He likes Ffos Las and should run off a nice weight.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Rosscahill
He has run twice at Ffos Las and won both times. Stepping up in trip should suit him and the ground will be fine. It’s his first run in a handicap. Do I think 120 is a nice mark? Hopefully, he’s better than that. We’ll have to see.

Evan Williams, trainer of Balkardy
He’s probably in a bit too deep, but is a lovely horse who has given us all a lot of fun. We’ll try and get some prize-money.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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