bet365 Hurdle (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 16.60s

Fountains Windfall²¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 146

14/1

Form improved as he stepped up in trip last season and he ended the campaign with three successive victories in a couple of week novice hurdles and a competitive handicap at Aintree. On the upgrade, but needs to find even more.

Form: 173111-

Wholestone²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 146| BF| D

2/1

Tough and talented staying novice hurdler last season, but just fell short at the highest level. Still time for him to take the next step and he was by no means disgraced on his return in a valuable handicap at Chepstow. Respected.

Form: 12113-4

Gayebury¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 148| D

14/1

Won three times in his novice season and finished a highly-creditable second at Warwick to subsequent Neptune Novices' Hurdle hero Willoughby Court. Fully entitled to mix it with these, but has to find extra to be involved in the finish.

Form: 122101-

Lil Rockerfeller^p¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 164

2/1

Looked set to win the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival only to be nabbed on the run-in by Nichols Canyon. Probably over the top when well held at Punchestown on his final start of last season and is the one to beat if back to his best.

Form: 322420-

Missed Approach¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 145| D

20/1

Last seen when finishing eighth in the Scottish National at Ayr, he was a more than useful novice chaser last season. Boasts fair form over hurdles, too, but is likely to find one or two of his rivals too speedy on his return from a break.

Form: 413U28-

Ptit Zig^b¹⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 158

4/1

Very useful hurdler/chaser who won a Grade 1 contest at France in June, last year, but was well behind L'Ami Serge in his bid for a repeat this summer. Ratings suggest he has every chance and top stable could hardly be in better form.

Form: 34862-8

Colin's Sister²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142

10/1

Progressive mare last season, but had limitations exposed when fifth in a Grade 1 contest at Fairyhouse in April. Needs to find more on the evidence of that display, but worth a check in the market nonetheless.

Form: 2/11115-

Forecasts

Wholestone (2/1), Lil Rockerfeller (2/1), Ptit Zig (4/1), Colin's Sister (10/1), Fountains Windfall (14/1), Gayebury (14/1), Missed Approach (20/1)

Colin's Sister, Missed Approach, Gayebury and Fountains Windfall have plenty to find on official ratings and, although respected, may find this company a little too hot. The same can be said of WHOLESTONE, but there are reasons for thinking he may be capable of better. He had some tough races in the build-up to the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and may not have been at his best despite finishing third. He was not disgraced in a valuable handicap on his comeback run and, given the hot form of his leading trainer, may be too match-sharp for favourite Lil Rockerfeller, who clearly boasts the best form on his Stayers' Hurdle second. Ptit Zig is talented, but he does not win too often these days and is opposable at his likely price.