Bet toteexacta At betfred.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 16.82s

Gold Mountain^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 115| C

12/1

Winner here over fences in April when showing a good turn of foot. Beaten twice since over shorter and will be better for his latest run. Back over hurdles where his form gives him a lot to find at the weights. Still worth a check in the market.

Form: 23U1-35

Pengo's Boy^h²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: W S Kittow| OR: 113| C

11/2

Has been in good form lately and an Ascot third has earned him another rise in the weights. Tackles a new trip, but shapes as though it could play to his strengths and he will probably be delivered late again.

Form: 067123

One Of Us²⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 107

10/3

His hurdles form was consistent last term (placed in all four starts) and he showed that he could cope with handicaps on a couple of occasions. Bred to need a trip and the stable's horses have been running well..

Form: 44/3343-

Libby T Valance⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 107

6/1

Worcester bumper winner who has lacked pace in both hurdles starts and now gets a trip in line with her pedigree. Needs to pull out a bit more to win off this mark on handicap debut, however the potential is clearly there.

Form: 13-3

Silent Steps²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 107| D

4/1

Chased home the useful Beer Goggles at Ayr in April over this trip and has since joined the Nicholls team whose hurdlers do well at their local track. She took time to find her form last term and the market will be informative on her seasonal bow.

Form: 455622-

Comely¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 101| BF

3/1

Form is a mixed bag and she has bled in the past. Has plenty to prove but her handicap mark is undemanding. If there is going to be a good time to catch her, then this may be it.

Form: 3432-3

Good News²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 96

12/1

Failed to see out 3m2f last time having gone well until two out. A drop in trip and a lower mark could be the answer if settling better on this occasion.

Form: 46-4434

Forecasts

Comely (3/1), One Of Us (10/3), Silent Steps (4/1), Pengo's Boy (11/2), Libby T Valance (6/1), Gold Mountain (12/1), Good News (12/1)

Pengo's Boy has the best recent form of these and this new trip could see him use his turn of foot to good effect. However, successive rises in the weights without winning leave him vulnerable and SILENT STEPS is preferred. The Ditcheat mare represents a yard whose hurdlers have an impressive strike rate here and her latest second to Beer Goggles looks strong with that horse scoring since off a mark of 145. That represents the strongest form in this and, if fit, she will take all the beating. Libby T Valance will improve for this longer trip and she rates a danger, whilst Comely appears to carry too many risks judged on her record to date.