Call Star Sports On 08000 521321 Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 4m 58.60s

Airtight²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

5/1

Showed some promise in pair of bumper runs at Fontwell and Ascot, pitched in fairly deep on hurdles bow at Kempton (2m, good to soft) on Boxing Day and duly outclassed. This is more realistic, with yard in good form.

Form: 267

Fight For Love⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L J Mongan

20/1

Well beaten in three bumpers, latest on Lingfield's AW in November off a break. Has some improving to do seemingly on first attempt over flights.

Form: 05-5

Maratt⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

100/1

Bought for £32,000 his dam was placed on the Flat in France and is a half-sister to a French hurdle/chase winner. Tame efforts in pair of bumpers and must improve now meeting hurdles.

Form: 00

Mr Jack³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: Mrs L C Jewell

100/1

Sent off 50/1 and never a factor in Towcester novice hurdle (2m5f, good to soft) last month, down in trip here but plenty to work on.

Form: P

Snowy Oscar^h,t1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: N J Gifford

33/1

Came home at walking pace in Newbury introductory hurdle last month in jumps bow, having gone off 50/1 outsider. Watching brief safest for now.

Form: 86

Lisp³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

1/6

Promising debut for Alan King when second on hurdles bow at Fontwell in November and built on that to score at Plumpton last month. Hung a bit on the run-in but the one to beat on that evidence just the same.

Form: 21

Angel of Harlem³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock

11/1

£43,000 buy last year and out of a useful bumper/2m-3m hurdle winner. Well fended off on hurdles bow at Plumpton (2m4½f, soft) last month and drops in trip now. Can improve on that effort.

Form: 8-4

Forecasts

Lisp (1/6), Airtight (5/1), Angel of Harlem (11/1), Fight For Love (20/1), Snowy Oscar (33/1), Maratt (100/1), Mr Jack (100/1)

This looks to be LISP'S race to lose. He scored at Plumpton last month on his second start for Alan King, with the front pair coming a long way clear and a subsequent winner behind them. Barring an accident, he should collect a second win over timber now. Very few of the others have positives to draw on. Angel Of Harlem was a remote fourth on hurdles bow at Plumpton and could build on that now dropped in trip while Airtight will at least find this less taxing than the Boxing Day race he contested at Kempton.