Edinburgh Gin 2017 Leading Horsemen Awards Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 40.0s

Calett Mad^t¹⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142

2/5

Useful mudloving chaser representing last year's winning yard. Carries a BHA rating of 142 over fences and can afford to run several pounds below that and still land this.

Form: 212952-

Creevytennant^t⁵⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 10-12| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 139| CD

5/2

Admirable front-running chaser who has won four of his five races here. Goes well for this rider and loves to dominate small fields. Probably does not want the ground this soft, particularly over these smaller obstacles.

Form: P9/2-131

Hey Listen¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

25/1

Winning pointer who hails from a yard that have won this twice in recent years. Excellent run here 17 days ago over an inadequate trip and looks set to improve considerably.

Form: F1F2-P3

Non-Runners

Ebony Rose¹⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: S Corbett J: James Corbett

Forecasts

Calett Mad (2/5), Creevytennant (5/2), Ebony Rose (14/1), Hey Listen (25/1)

An intriguing race to open the card and one which CALETT MAD should take if running close to his mark over fences. The trip and ground will not be an issue. That just leaves his effectiveness over the smaller obstacles and his fitness to prove with this likely to be preparation for Cheltenham next month. Should he falter then Hey Listen looks the most likely to candidate to benefit, given an eyecatching run last time over an inadequate trip. Ebony Rose is much improved since learning to settle but faces a stiffer task here under a penalty. Nevertheless as a course specialist and with less to prove than her rivals, she cannot be dismissed too lightly. Creevytennant is another course specialist but the forecast ground makes his prospects less appealing.