Stratford preview: Cousin Khee weighted to cash-in

Cousin Khee looks weighted to take all the beating in the 2m 2f handicap hurdle on today’s card at Stratford (16.50) now eased in grade.

The Hughie Morrison trained gelding had some useful form to his name in 2012/13 when landing a novice Hurdle at Huntingdon in good style, before going on to finish an excellent third in a class 3 handicap at Aintree off a mark of 123.

Cousin Khee also wasn’t disgraced on his last run over the obstacles in the early part of 2013 when fifth of 11 in a class 3 contest at Kempton off 122, and is now able to race in this lower grade class 4 affair off 118.

That gives the eight-year-old major claims at the weights, and Cousin Khee has plenty of decent efforts to his name on the level in recent years which show he retains plenty of ability.

With the ground fine and Tom O’Brien in the saddle, Cousin Khee looks to have been shrewdly placed and found a lovely opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Maputo scored in good style on his debut over the obstacles, and is thus a worthy favourite to follow-up in the 2m 2f novices hurdle that opens proceedings (14.20).

The gelding was a very smart performer on the flat when trained by Mark Johnston, and looked one to keep onside when scoring in good style at Perth last month on his first start for new handler John Ferguson.