Citipost Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 48.40s

Azzerti^h1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 132

17/2

Getting the hang of it over hurdles winning two of his last three starts. Most recent of those came on soft ground at Sandown over 2m last month and he wears a hood for his first attempt over 2m4f today.

Form: 44-231

Coastal Tiep^p1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

9/2

Successful in a point-to-point, a bumper and a novice hurdle so far. Disappointingly beaten 1L when favourite for a novice hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Newbury last month. Placed in a handicap the time before and wears cheekpieces for the first time today.

Form: 111423

Solighoster³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 133

8/1

Winner of two of his three hurdles starts to date. Beaten 3L when finishing second of four in a novice hurdle at Plumpton (good-to-soft) over an extended 2m4f a month ago. Made Front ran for two previous hurdles victories and an interesting contender here.

Form: 1-1

William Henry⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139

8/15

Finished runner-up here on hurdling debut back in December and justified odds-on favouritism at Newbury later that month. Unraced since finishing runner-up behind the subsequently Grade 1-placed Wholestone here in January and likely to run well in this.

Form: 411/2

Blairs Cove^t⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ian Popham| T: D Skelton

40/1

Signs of ability in four outings in bumpers for previous stable. Most recent of those came at Leopardstown on good ground and makes his hurdles debut for a yard with a 27% strike-rate (13/49) of late.

Form: 5/3352-

Forecasts

William Henry (8/15), Coastal Tiep (9/2), Solighoster (8/1), Azzerti (17/2), Blairs Cove (40/1)

COASTAL TIEP has some solid form to his name and can take this opening event for a stable who's horses are running well at present. The selection finished runner-up in a handicap over further on his penultimate outing and with the stiff finish likely to suit and his trainer having a 29% strike-rate recently he can take this. William Henry has run in some strong races so far including when placed in a Graded event here in January and he can claim second ahead of the first time hooded Azzerti.