Betfred Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier)

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 4m 28.83s

Louis' Vac Pouch^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cheesman⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

2/1

Took advantage of a good opportunity when downing what looked to be his sole market rival (Listen To The Man) on soft ground at Southwell last month on just his third start over hurdles. Arguably thrown in deep on his first two hurdle outings behind better rivals, but he did show glimmers of ability and clearly has a willing attitude. Likely to go well again despite the penalty.

Form: 641F11-

Mr Clarkson²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe

1/1

Scored on stable debut at Exeter (bumper) on New Year's Day, having joined the yard for £45,000 at the Cheltenham November sale. Followed up over hurdles a few weeks later back at the same track, a success for which he is penalised today, and can probably be excused his latest start after blundering badly early in the race. A player on ground which is likely to suit.

Form: 62

Crackdeloust⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Megan Carberry⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 113

5/1

Proved no match for Applaus when finishing third over this trip on holding heavy ground at Newcastle last week, and is turned out quickly after what was potentially a hard enough race. Difficult to see him being able to beat a couple of today's rivals on these terms, but remains a nice enough prospect for Northern novice handicaps later in the season.

Form: 2/43251-

Min Alemarat⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 103

33/1

Raced off marks in the 90's on the Flat, and has competed without much of a showing in races such as the Northumberland Plate and the Northumberland Vase. Started off well over hurdles when third to Spirit of Kayf and Master of Finance at Hexham in September, but in truth hasn't progressed in three runs since, and can be passed over for now.

Form: /-337

Reverant Cust^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Finian O'Toole| T: P Atkinson

14/1

Left his hurdles debut behind when upped in trip at Catterick earlier this month, but was never likely to be any match for the talented Sam Spinner. Drops back to 2m which doesn't appear a most obvious move, and was well beaten on his sole start at this track in a bumper in November 2016.

Form: 76-

Pretty Reckless¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton

40/1

Sole filly in the race and a four-year-old who seeks to make the most of all her allowances against a couple of penalised winners, but despite her decent pedigree, she's hardly set the world alight so far in bumpers or over hurdles.

Form: 766

Non-Runners

Flans O Man³³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: Mrs S Leech J: Patrick Cowley

Forecasts

Mr Clarkson (1/1), Louis' Vac Pouch (2/1), Crackdeloust (5/1), Reverant Cust (14/1), Min Alemarat (33/1), Pretty Reckless (40/1), Flans O Man (100/1)

This looks to rest between the penalised pair Mr Clarkson and LOUIS' VAC POUCH. The market is likely to be drawn to the David Pipe trained horse, in part, due to his sizeable purchase price. He's almost certainly capable of bouncing back from an early blunder last time, but Louis' Vac Pouch holds very similar form claims, and whilst he might have seen off a horse who is beginning to appear slightly disappointing last time at Southwell, he displayed a most likeable attitude, and he probably holds much better claims of winning another novice under a penalty (partly offset by his riders claim) than he does competing in a handicap from a mark of 128. 1. Louis' Vac Pouch 2. Mr Clarkson 3. Crackdeloust