2nd To Favourite Day 3 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 26.00s

Fountains Windfall¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 135

3/10

Assumed command at an early stage and went to win easily at Wincanton last time out; confirming his status as a progressive individual. The drop is trip is a slight concern on this occasion but otherwise everything else looks in place for another bold effort.

Form: 173111

Solighoster²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 133

5/2

Won as expected in modest company last time out and looks ready for the step up in distance (won a point-to-point over 3m, so should have no problems with his stamina holding out). In-form jockey claims 7lb, which obviously eases the burden of the penalty, and looks the one to beat.

Form: 1-1

Moneystown²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L C Jewell

100/1

Unfancied in each of his two previous starts under rules and already needs to find improvement. The step up in distance may help but he needs everything to go his way.

Form: 2210

Pippa The Dancer^h1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L C Jewell

250/1

Has a bit to find with Moneytown judging by their encounter at this course last month. Difficult to see her reversing the form and is not hard to look elsewhere to on this occasion.

Form: 0

Forecasts

Fountains Windfall (3/10), Solighoster (5/2), Moneystown (100/1), Pippa The Dancer (250/1)

This may boil down to a straight match between SOLIGHOSTER and Fountails Windfall. The former has impressed with his attitude and, given that his rider can claim 7lb under the conditions of the race, he may well have the edge this time around. Moneytown makes more appeal than Pippa The Dancer but both have a good bit to prove against a couple of progressive types.