Charlie Longsdon Racing Club Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 3m 55.22s

Champagne City²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 114| D

4/6

Useful sort on the Flat when trained by Mark Johnson gaining three wins at up to a mile. Showed plenty to work on for his current yard on his hurdles debut at Newton Abbot off a break looking as though he would be better for the run and subsequently got off the mark last time out in a Kelso novice hurdle.

Form: 41

Mister Showman^t1³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 119| D

7/4

Made a winning debut over hurdles after showing some reasonable form on the Flat (rated 60) in middle-distance handicaps. That contest didn't take a lot of winning however and the Showcasing gelding was subsequently beaten last time out in a Warwick novice hurdle, beaten 3L behind Argus.

Form: 12

Rolling Dice²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M D Grant| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 110

25/1

No impression on two runs following a two and half year absence, beaten 150L last time out on the Flat in a Windsor class 5 handicap. Last seen over hurdles in January 2015 finishing 12L behind Beltor.

Form: 654/

Telmadela¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs R Ford

66/1

Won a point-to-point in April, last year, but has shown little in a bumper and maiden hurdle for his current stable. Well held four times under rules since and more needed in this.

Form: 21/08-87

Western Dream²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: A Phillips

100/1

Has more letters than numbers next to his name and refused in a Woodford point-to-point in April, pulled up in a Cheltenham hunter chase, before two more point-to-point failures.. One to swerve.

Form: P3R-PPP

Thahab Ifraj²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn

14/1

A moderate maiden on the Flat for Ismail Mohammed, he took a keen hold and was ultimately beaten a long way when fifth of eight on his hurdling bow at Wincanton in March and subsequently beaten 15L last time out in a Ffos Las novice hurdle.

Form: 5-4

Forecasts

Champagne City (4/6), Mister Showman (7/4), Thahab Ifraj (14/1), Rolling Dice (25/1), Telmadela (66/1), Western Dream (100/1)

Mister Showman and Champagne City will make the running here, and could quite easily have the opposition floundering before half-way in this un-competitive contest. Preference is for MISTER SHOWMAN who is by Showcasing out of a Royal Applause mare, who can get back to winning ways following a defeat last time out in a Warwick novice hurdle. Made a winning debut over hurdles after showing some reasonable form on the Flat (rated 60) in middle-distance handicaps.