32Red Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 3.60s

Kalashnikov³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 139| D

2/1

Impressive in three starts, and remains unbeaten after galloping them into the ground at Doncaster last time (found plenty for pressure). Track likely to suit and ground shouldn't be an issue, and looks one of the major contenders today.

Form: 1-11

Mont Des Avaloirs²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| D

4/1

Would probably be 2-2 but for a fall at Wincanton, and with the eventual winner there winning at Cheltenham next time, his form has a solid look. Of more concern is that fact he jumped left last time, which won't help his cause here.

Form: 2-1F1

Summerville Boy²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: T R George| OR: 142

8/1

Didn't help his cause by being a bit too keen pre-race last time, but stuck to the task well to take third and this sort of test ought to suit him. Point-to-point form is solid and gives the indication there's more to come.

Form: 1223

The Russian Doyen²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard

10/1

Second to Mont Des Avaloirs in a Chepstow bumper first time out but has improved on that in two subsequent efforts and came away in pleasing fashion when winning at Exeter last time. Trip and ground will both suit, but this is tougher.

Form: 231

Western Ryder²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 146| D

7/4

Beat Summerville Boy into third when successful at Cheltenham last time, galloping on best to score after settling better than that one did. Had previously shown heavy ground holds no terrors when victorious at Chepstow and looks the one to beat.

Form: 253-U11

Non-Runners

Sussex Ranger²⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Western Ryder (7/4), Kalashnikov (2/1), Mont Des Avaloirs (4/1), Sussex Ranger (15/2), Summerville Boy (8/1), The Russian Doyen (10/1)

Western Ryder has the form in the bank, and a test like this looks tailor-made for him, so he's hard to knock. Similar comments apply to Kalashnikov, who dug deep at Doncaster but the pair could be in for a surprise as SUSSEX RANGER, who takes this in rather than the juvenile contest that starts the card, looked a horse of great potential when sluicing up over C&D here last time out. The time of that was good too, and getting weight from the principals, can cause the upset.