East Farndon Selling Hurdle

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 3m 51.90s

Gold Class^b,t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: C Hobson| OR: 103

8/1

Winner on stable bow for Olly Murphy at Market Rasen in July but more recent efforts less convincing. Change of scenery again and needs very best form to take this.

Form: 78-1843

Octagon²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 125| D

4/5

Can be useful at this sort of level, as he showed when landing the odds at Southwell last month over this trip, repeat of that run puts him top of the list.

Form: 32P4/2-1

Bridey's Lettuce^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson

16/1

Winner on Flat for Ivan Furtado at Beverley in August, hasn't really taken to hurdling in two starts so far and would be hard to support until some positives are in evidence.

Form: 06

Clock On Tom³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: B Leavy| OR: 100| CD

6/1

Landed a four-timer between late 2015 and early 2016 but now on 15-race losing streak. Was right in the race on return at Stratford (2m2½f, good) on return last month when losing all chance at the last obstacle. Cannot rule out on that showing.

Form: 6PP40-5

Linkenholt^h1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

12/1

A €100,000 purchase, he's shown next to nothing so far in bumpers / over hurdles in four runs and worrying to see him in this company already. First-time hood on today.

Form: 06-90

Mister Big^b1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 102

7/1

Made an encouraging start over hurdles a year ago for Philip Hobbs at Chepstow, but on a downward spiral since and drops to selling company now with first-time blinkers added on third start for this trainer.

Form: 29F5-P9

More Than Two⁶¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: B Leavy

12/1

Finished a remote third in a bumper at Bangor in March 2016 on sole start for Fergal O'Brien, must defy 612 days off on hurdling debut and one to watch unless strong support arrives.

Form: 3/

Forecasts

Octagon (4/5), Clock On Tom (6/1), Mister Big (7/1), Gold Class (8/1), Linkenholt (12/1), More Than Two (12/1), Bridey's Lettuce (16/1)

OCTAGON is the one to beat here for the in-form Harry Whittington, having scored in a similar contest last time at Southwell. A replication of that effort would give him outstanding claims of doubling up. Clock On Tom was delivering a much better effort on his return last month at Stratford only to forego his chance as he slithered and all but fell after jumping the last. He knows how to win and could mount a bid if building on that effort. Gold Class could go well on first run for a new yard while Mister Big may perk up in new headgear.