Leicester Champion Groundstaff 2017 Novices' Claiming Hurdle

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 4m 22.10s

Emigrated^v¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Davies| T: D Shaw| OR: 97

66/1

Struggled over hurdles for previous yard and not done anything on the Flat since arriving with current handler to warrant selection on return to this sphere.

Form: 8-20850

Iniesta^p⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: M Blake| OR: 108| BF| D

4/1

Won a Stratford seller over extended two-miles in October on good to soft ground (sole win from 12 over timber) but unable to add to tally in weak contests at Huntingdon and Ludlow since despite market support. First start for new yard.

Form: 267132

Stuccodor^b¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 102

9/4

Would pick this lot up on the best of his form but a tale of woe recently and tumbling down the weights as a result. Fair effort last time at Warwick (2m, soft) and cannot rule him out in this grade. Stable took this 12 months ago.

Form: 0P5374

Breeze Along^h,t⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 78

20/1

Fairly limited signs of ability for previous trainer and hasn't upped game in two starts for Sam Thomas, latest over 2m on good to soft at Uttoxeter in November. Would be a brave call to side with him despite the lowly grade.

Form: 3-33F36

Indian Reel^p,t1⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 91

6/4

Point-to-point winner who is yet to score under Rules but did show better signs at Warwick (2m3f, heavy) on New Year's Eve when close third. Frustratingly weakened out of it at Wetherby last week, worth a try over 2m in this company.

Form: 698436

Royal Etiquette^p,t¹²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 88

22/1

11-years-old and remains a maiden after 16 starts over timber, has gone close here over 2m4½f in the past and also ran two decent races in testing ground around this time last year. Capable fresh, may challenge on ground he acts on.

Form: 225-549

Righteous River¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: W G M Turner

12/1

Filly has shown some minor promise in four bumpers runs, though her worst effort came on New Year's Day at Exeter on heavy ground, which is a worry ahead of this first outing over jumps.

Form: 5655

Forecasts

Indian Reel (6/4), Stuccodor (9/4), Iniesta (4/1), Righteous River (12/1), Breeze Along (20/1), Royal Etiquette (22/1), Emigrated (66/1)

Not a contest to whet the appetite and so a hopeful vote is handed to ROYAL ETIQUETTE on his return from a break. He remains a maiden but did go close at this track in the past, while he also twice finished second around this time last year on testing ground. He has gone close off a break before and could mount a challenge under in-form Aidan Coleman. Iniesta holds the strongest claims on form, having won at Stratford in October though he passed up a pair of decent chances subsequently before leaving Fergal O'Brien. Stuccodor produced a better effort at Warwick last time and is worth noting while Indian Reel drops in trip having weakened when challenging at Wetherby last week.