Budweiser Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 28.40s

Alderson

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ian Popham| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

12/1

Dam a 1m3½f Flat winning half-sister to 1m1f/1m2f winner Generous Diana (dam of 1m4f Group 2 winner Dandino) and bumper/2m3f and 2m4f hurdle winner Tokala. Stable 0-9 in bumpers last five seasons and he looks one to watch on debut.

Form:

Before Midnight

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

7/4

€35,000 yearling who then cost €55,000 at three. Dam 3m hurdle winning half-sister to bumper/3m and 3m1f hurdle winner and a 2m5f hurdle winner, out of top class hurdler Lady Rebecca. Top stable 28% in bumpers this season. Obvious claims.

Form:

Burns Cross²⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland

11/4

Irish point-to-point winner on debut in April (3m, gd/yld) and cost €75,000. Full-brother to a 2m6f hurdle winner. Dam unraced half-sister to a bumper/2m-3m hurdle/chase winner. Interesting, though stable has just one bumper winner this season.

Form: 1-

Locker Room Talk²⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis

9/4

Runner-up in sole Irish point-to-point in April and bought for €135,000 later that month. Half-brother to bumper/2m and 2m5f hurdle winner Carnspindle. Dam placed in bumper and 2m/3m chases. Market check suggested ahead of debut.

Form: 2-

Upsettheodds⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

10/1

Won an Irish point-to-point at his third attempt in November before being bought for £15,000. Dam won a maiden point-to-point and half-sister to three winners over hurdles/fences from 2m3f-3m. Stable going well and 15% in bumpers. Market check.

Form: 451

Forecasts

Before Midnight (7/4), Locker Room Talk (9/4), Burns Cross (11/4), Upsettheodds (10/1), Alderson (12/1)

A field of rules newcomers and therefore probably not a race to get too heavily involved in from a punting perspective, though there are some nice pedigrees and also trainers who do well in these events being represented. BEFORE MIDNIGHT has a good National Hunt pedigree and his dam was a heavy ground hurdle winner, so coming from a stable with the best bumper record of those involved here, he gets the vote. Upsettheodds is nicely-related and can go well along with Burns Cross, while Locker Room Talk is not ruled out and the market should be checked closely for hints as to who is ready to go well first time.