Sky Bet Supreme Scottish Trial Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 3m 48.8s

Beyond The Clouds⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: K A Ryan| CD

7/1

Winner of two from three in bumpers, he's made a perfect start over timber with two wins, including last time out over this C&D in November when impressing. This is a lot tougher but dangerous to discount that he'll improve against decent rivals.

Form: 12-111

Brahms De Clermont⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

11/2

Wide margin winner at Taunton in November and little trouble in following up back there in December with all-the-way success. On good terms with himself but will have to step things up considerably in this company.

Form: 2-13211

Claimantakinforgan⁴⁴

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

4/7

Champion Bumper third last season, he's developing into a very smart novice hurdler this term for the Seven Barrows team. Impressed with his win in Ascot Grade 2 before Christmas and sets the standard for last year's winning trainer/jockey.

Form: 6235-11

Ballyvic Boru²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C R King| T: B Ellison| CD

50/1

Beat Beyond The Clouds to win his bumper here in February and made impressive winning start over timber at Perth in July. Off since and being asked a serious question on return, shouldn't be dismissed too readily.

Form: 61213-1

Simply The Betts⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Whittington| OR: 125

11/2

Backed to win a Market Rasen bumper on debut in September and did job nicely. Acquitted himself well enough in two hurdles starts thus far, latest in useful Kempton contest on Boxing Day when 14L fourth of eight. Entitled to place in this line-up.

Form: 134

Forecasts

Claimantakinforgan (4/7), Simply The Betts (11/2), Brahms De Clermont (11/2), Beyond The Clouds (7/1), Ballyvic Boru (50/1)

A fitting line-up for a Supreme Novices' Trial and this should be an interesting contest. CLAIMANTAKINFORGAN sets the standard after his Ascot success and will be short in the betting for the champion trainer, who won this race a year ago. He sets the standard and will be expected to warm up for Cheltenham by making it three from three over hurdles. He'll have to on his guard however, with Beyond The Clouds having recorded an impressive C&D success in November to protect his own unbeaten record over jumps. This is tougher, but he should improve again. Ballyvic Boru scored on hurdles bow at Perth in the summer and has been off since, he got the better of Beyond The Clouds to win his bumper here and is worth paying some attention to now. Simply The Betts has shaped well behind decent opposition lately and rates a bigger danger than dual Taunton winner Brahms De Clermont.