Independent Merchandisers Ltd Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 16.31s

Follow The Bear¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 129| D

15/8

Won a similar race at Kempton (good) in May but then beaten here at 1-14 under a penalty next time (2m4½f). Has run well in defeat in handicaps of late. This looks a good opportunity to right the wrongs of his last visit now back against novices.

Form: 23-1237

Station Master²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 130| D

2/1

Aintree bumper winner on debut in May and has improved on that in both hurdles runs, winning last time at Warwick (3m2f, good to soft). Penalised as a result, but stayed on strongly and gave impression that there is more to come.

Form: 1F1-131

Aloomomo³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 125

5/2

Useful chaser at his best and there may still be more to come in that discipline, but 13lb lower hurdles mark is there to be exploited and he went well on his reappearance at Carlisle last month. Will probably stay this easy 3m and is interesting.

Form: 136/3F-3

Plus One²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| D

7/1

Irish point-to-point winner who made a good debut over hurdles at Wetherby in February (2m3½f, good to soft). Sent off at 4-1 but was unable to back that up after a nine-month absence when running at Chepstow last month. Needs to get back on track.

Form: P12-6

Janes Boutique²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T Symonds

50/1

Well beaten in both starts over hurdles so far (2m5f/2m7f) and steps up further in trip here. As a dual-placed Irish point-to-pointer that won't be any detriment to her chance, but she looks one to appeal more with a handicap mark after this race.

Form: 32/0-57

Forecasts

Follow The Bear (15/8), Station Master (2/1), Aloomomo (5/2), Plus One (7/1), Janes Boutique (50/1)

A small field but this could get competitive and the suggestion to get the better of the two recent winners in the field is ALOOMOMO. Rated 140 over fences at his best, he has not yet reached those heights over hurdles, but he came back well from a break last time and that should have him spot on for this. On official ratings there should be little to chose between Follow The Bear and Station Master, who both come to the track in winning form, though giving weight to the selection. Follow The Bear was disappointing here over shorter earlier in the year and may win that particular argument today given that he is a little more battle-hardened.