E.B.F. 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 7.6s

Casper King³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 129

4/7

Landed the odds in good style at Exeter last time out; would be conceding lumps of weight if this were a handicap, so has to be a serious contender to record a back-to-back success.

Form: 2-26211

Not Another Muddle²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: A Glassonbury| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117

9/4

made good strides in his starts so far and certainly appears to be on the upgrade. The handicapper assess that he has a bit to find with Casper King just now, but this fellow may has shown plenty of improvement and may well rise to the task again here.

Form: 2-

Boudry³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

9/1

Running as if there is something amiss just now; he has ability but recent form is too off-putting for him to secure a place on the shortlist.

Form: 2316-30

Mab Dab⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: Mrs L C Jewell

200/1

Very difficult to make a strong case out for him after he made a very inauspicious start to his hurdling career at this course on Boxing day last year. The form of his efforts in bumper makes for equally depressing reading; others preferred.

Form: 6/59371-

Market Road^b,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

66/1

Early days for him under rules but it's difficult to see where he will be going judging on the evidence of three starts for his current yard. Best watched just for now.

Form: 58552-1

Non-Runners

Cash Again²²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: Sam Twiston-Davies

The Mighty Don²²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: N J Gifford J: L P Aspell

Forecasts

Casper King (4/7), Not Another Muddle (9/4), Cash Again (3/1), The Mighty Don (4/1), Boudry (9/1), Market Road (66/1), Mab Dab (200/1)

It may pay to concentrate on CASPER KING and Not Another Muddle in this tricky little novices heat. The former has shown a resilient attitude so far, and the manner of his success at Exeter created the impression he has plenty more to offer. The Might Don is another that is going the right way and, as he escapes any penalties, he can make sure Not Another Muddle will have a stiff fight on his hands if the selection fails to deliver for any reason. Cash Again is respected and worth noting in the betting; he may need a stiffer test though. 1. Casper King 2. Not Another Muddle 3. The Mighty Don