John And Josie Celebration Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 3m 54.9s

Ashkoul¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

10/3

Rated 87 on the Flat where he has won over 1m1f/1m2f in France with cut in the ground. Half-brother to six winners including the very smart 2m-3m hurdler/chaser Ashkazar. In good hands and it will be a surprise if he cannot make a good debut.

Form:

Mr Whipped²⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

2/9

Irish point-to-point winner (soft) in March before changing hands for €160,000. Dam won over 1m6f-2m on Flat/2m-2m4f over hurdles and is half-sister to three other hurdle winners, one who also won over fences. Represents top yard and can go well.

Form: 1-

Windspiel²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: D W P Arbuthnot

66/1

Well beaten in a bumper and both runs over hurdles so far at 2m/2m5f. Likely to find this tough going given the opposition and should be a more interesting when he has a handicap mark.

Form: 098-

Non-Runners

Irish Prophecy¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: L P Aspell

Forecasts

Mr Whipped (2/9), Irish Prophecy (1/1), Ashkoul (10/3), Windspiel (66/1)

A small field but no less interesting with three candidates who could all be seen as possible winners. The suggestion on his hurdling debut is MR WHIPPED. Nicky Henderson's four-year-old is well-related, acts with cut in the ground and will be well prepared for this rules debut, so he is suggested. Ashkoul has plenty of racecourse experience on the Flat and is another who will be well schooled and acts on softer ground, so he is a danger. Dual bumper winner Irish Prophecy clearly goes well when fresh and possesses ability and he is not taken on lightly.