Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Leamington) (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 5m 14.3s

Ballyhill¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136

33/1

Step back up in trip looks an obvious positive but he needs to step his form up a level to get involved here and he has to give away weight to all but one of his rivals.

Form: 711443

Peregrine Run⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R Loughran| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 131

11/2

Goes in search of a five-timer here and won a nice looking race at Cheltenham last time, beating Wholestone who has won a nice looking race since. That looks just about the best form on offer here and he's respected in his bid to defend his 100% record this season.

Form: 011113

Geordie Des Champs¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135

7/4

Denied in bid for a five-timer last time but stayed on well enough in defeat. Gets weight off a couple of useful types and should cope with the softer conditions having won his bumper in soft ground. Interesting to see how he returns from that effort.

Form: 111263

Willoughby Court³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 127

11/4

Won twice at this course, last over C&D justifying favoritism. A couple of rivals have come out and boosted that form since so he's well worth consideration in here.

Form: 3/115-21

Gayebury⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

9/2

Won't be allowed to dictate affairs by his rivals like he has been able to do on several occasions but the form of his most recent win has been boosted. Effective in the conditions so certainly respected.

Form: 3-12210

Get On The Yager⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: David England| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

8/1

Disappointed as odds-on favourite last time and he won't be allowed to make any slip ups here; may struggle to make all.

Form: 11-12

Non-Runners

Fountains Windfall²³⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: A J Honeyball J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Geordie Des Champs (7/4), Willoughby Court (11/4), Gayebury (9/2), Peregrine Run (11/2), Get On The Yager (8/1), Fountains Windfall (16/1), Ballyhill (33/1)

PEREGRINE RUN puts his 100% record for the season on the line here and the form of his victory over the highly promising Wholestone looks rock solid. He may just have too much experience for some of these. Gayebury could be dangerous if he's allowed to dominate from the front and the form of Willoughby Court's run last time out has been boosted several times so he ought to put up a good show. 1. Peregrine Run 2. Gayebury 3. Willoughby Court