Betfred 'Home Of Goals Galore' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 4m 21.37s

Arthington⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| D

11/1

Has looked a new prospect since going over hurdles, winning three from five so far. Latest coming in similar Leicester event on soft ground in early December. Double penalty clearly makes life tougher.

Form: 3-11221

Ainchea³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139| CD

11/8

Ran well in Cheltenham bumper in October before opening account over timber at first time of asking over this C&D in December. Close second in Listed Cheltenham event on New Year's Day over 2m4½f on heavy going. Respected back here over this trip.

Form: 212

Desiremoi D'Authie^h1⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N D Fehily| T: A King

50/1

Well backed on debut at Huntingdon in October (2m, good) but raced too keenly and finished second. Again too keen at Ascot in better company next time and most recent effort at Taunton in December was listless. Hood added, plenty to prove.

Form: 260

It's Got Legs⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

66/1

Didn't always look most straightforward in two bumpers, though did show some promise in Fontwell debut. Beat a long way at Cheltenham on hurdles bow in December (2m1f, soft) and facing some potentially smart rivals again here.

Form: 248

Countister⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 127

5/6

Won several bumpers, including two Grade 2s, in France before joining Seven Barrows. Solid second on debut at Newbury and stepped up on that to account for a couple of subsequent winners in this grade at Doncaster in December in impressive fashion.

Form: 1211-21

Lightly Squeeze^p,h¹¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: L P Aspell| T: P Hide

66/1

Modest Flat winner, well below best when last spotted in that sphere at Leicester in October, returns for hurdling bow and likely to learn from the experience. Hard to fancy in this line-up.

Form:

Forecasts

Countister (5/6), Ainchea (11/8), Arthington (11/1), Desiremoi D'Authie (50/1), Lightly Squeeze (66/1), It's Got Legs (66/1)

Ainchea has some credible form in the book already and ran well enough in a Listed contest Cheltenham last time to command respect over this shorter trip, while the Tizzard team now appears to be coming to the boil nicely. He's respected but this may go to COUNTISTER, a smart French recruit for the champion trainer. She bumper into a decent mare on debut at Newbury before readily getting off the mark at Doncaster from a pair of subsequent winners. With more to come and weight in her favour, she's the one to be on. Arthington is already a three-time winner over timber and is respected but may find it tough carrying top weight against the aforementioned promising pair.