Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 2.5s

Dell Oro⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 127

16/1

Winner of two of his four starts so far including a novice hurdle at Ascot (good) over an extended 1m7f in November. Well beaten second on heavy ground since and interesting to see how he fares today.

Form: 17-12

Equus Secretus⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| CD

8/1

Point-to-point winner and winner of his first two starts over hurdles. Well beaten third in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (3m, soft) in December and interesting for a yard with a 36% strike-rate of late (4/11) dropping in trip today.

Form: 1-113

Mr One More⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 142

5/1

Bumper winner and dual scorer over hurdles who put in a respectable effort despite finishing last of six in a Grade 2 contest at Ascot (soft) last time out.

Form: 1-116

Theclockisticking⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 140| C

10/3

Dual winner over hurdles most recently on good ground over 2m here in November. Since finished third in a Grade 2 at Ascot on soft ground and he is one to note in this contest.

Form: 32-2113

Vinndication¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 141| D

5/2

Unbeaten in three starts including twice over hurdles. Most recent of those came over an extended 2m5f at Ascot (soft) last month and he is likely to play a leading role today.

Form: 111

Western Ryder³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 146| BF

7/2

Successful four times so far including in a Listed bumper and twice over hurdles. Sent off favourite prior to finishing a well beaten fourth of five in a Grade 1 at Sandown (2m, heavy) last month and dropping in grade today.

Form: 53-U114

Forecasts

Vinndication (5/2), Theclockisticking (10/3), Western Ryder (7/2), Mr One More (5/1), Equus Secretus (8/1), Dell Oro (16/1)

VINNDICATION can maintain his unbeaten record by taking this Listed novices' hurdle contest for trainer Kim Bailey. The selection was the winner of a novice contest at Ascot last time out and he is taken to get the better of Theclockisticking, third in a Grade 2 event last time out while Western Ryder, a disappointment when racing at the highest level last time out can finish third.