Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 4m 13.77s

First Flow²¹

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

9/4

Progressing well over hurdles, winning at Lingfield (2m, soft) on debut before an impressive 20L Newbury win (2m½f, heavy) last month. Potentially exciting on that evidence and a repeat effort will make him tough to beat.

Form: 4-411

Lisdoonvarna Lad²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| D

12/1

Showed promise in bumpers and broke his duck on his hurdles debut at Wetherby (2m, soft) last time with a ready 11L success. Bare form not as strong as some here, but that is not to say that he can't make the necessary improvement. Respected.

Form: 281

Lostintranslation⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 134| D

7/2

Ran well in a couple of novices' hurdles before getting off the mark in maiden company at Newbury (2m½f, soft) last time. Plenty to like about how he stuck on when challenged there and a similar effort should see him right in the mix.

Form: 4-221

McGowan's Pass²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: A M Thomson| D

14/1

Won both his bumper and his latest start, an Ayr maiden hurdle (2m) on heavy ground. Form of the latter not yet up to the level of a few of these, but he is similarly unexposed and another who may be able to make sufficient progress to get involved.

Form: 21-51

Midnight Shadow⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| D

5/1

Both his wins have been on soft ground, though he has proved that he handles these conditions and has been progressing with every run. Stable's runners going well and he doesn't have much to find to be bang there at the business end again.

Form: 127-122

Waterlord²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| CD

11/4

Dual bumper winner for John Ferguson and has improved for this trainer, winning his last two on heavy ground, including an easy 15L success over C&D last time. Could have a big future and he should be right in the thick of it again today.

Form: 142/611

Forecasts

First Flow (9/4), Waterlord (11/4), Lostintranslation (7/2), Midnight Shadow (5/1), Lisdoonvarna Lad (12/1), McGowan's Pass (14/1)

Another cracking renewal of this Grade 2 event and one in which WATERLORD gets the nod. Donald McCain has trained the winner of this race twice in the past decade, so he knows what is required and his seven-year-old acts here and on heavy ground, while he looked potentially exciting when scoring here last time. First Flow is of similar ilk, though if being very picky, he perhaps didn't beat that much at Newbury last time. He is feared nonetheless, while Midnight Shadow and Lostintranslation look the two next best on what they have achieved so far.