Smarkets Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 4m 5.50s

Gumball⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144| D

11/8

Produced dominant displays in his first two runs for this yard over hurdles winning by 31L and 8L at Stratford and Chepstow. Well below form when last seen at Cheltenham in a Grade 2 (jumped poorly) when hammered by a subsequent and useful winner; needs to jump with more fluency.

Form: 3-112

Style De Garde^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

10/11

A winner in France for his former yard on his second hurdles start he wasted no time in building on the when winning on his GB/stable debut at Newbury. Took a keen hold in that race but moved well through it to justify being a short-priced favourite; form not tested but looks sure to progress.

Form: 3-11

Aiguille Rouge¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117

20/1

Looked to have learnt and progressed from her initial hurdles effort when winning by 8L at Fontwell on her second start. Followed up on that performance when winning over the same C&D last time showing plenty of pace; more needed here but not totally ruled out.

Form: 311

Embole^h1⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

14/1

Certainly showed a lot more than when finishing last of four on his bumper debut (trained in France at the time) on his debut for this yard at Newcastle in early December. Given how well she travelled there she looks a certain improver but this is a much tougher test.

Form: 43

Esprit De Somoza³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams

20/1

Made an encouraging start to his career at Sandown especially as that was his first race of any kind. Looks sure to improve but still lacks the experience of some of these and may have to wait for another day to get off the mark.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Style De Garde (10/11), Gumball (11/8), Embole (14/1), Esprit De Somoza (20/1), Aiguille Rouge (20/1)

Just the five go to post for this decent juvenile hurdle and Gumball looks sure to get an easy lead if he retains the same run style as before and he could be hard to pull back around here although his jumping does leave a little to be desired. For that reason STYLE DE GARDE is preferred given how well he moved through his last race at Newbury when winning with a bit in hand. Both Embole and Aiguille Rouge have shown that they have ability although this is a step up in class for both of them.