Visit The All New racinguk.com Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 49.91s

Rio Quinto¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 132| BF

5/6

Impressive maiden hurdle winner at Fakenham (soft) over 2m4f in December. Disappointed at that same venue when only second subsequently and he is one for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 3-2012

Drovers Lane²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis

16/1

Point-to-point winner on yielding ground in May 2016 but absent for well over a year prior to finishing eighth in a Newbury (soft) bumper last month. Making his hurdling debut today.

Form: 3/1-8

Louse Talk²⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon

8/1

Point-to-point winner on yielding-to-soft ground on the second of two starts in that sphere last spring and purchased for £45,000 subsequently. Making his hurdling debut today.

Form: P-1

Royal Tara²⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V WilliamsWS

5/1

Point-to-point winner last April and followed up in a novice hunter chase the following month. Had a wind op since his latest outing and makes his debut for a new yard today.

Form: P/1-1

Sartene's Son³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

22/1

Signs of ability on the second of three hurdling starts in December but well held subsequently and likely to be of more interest once tackling handicaps.

Form: 9P79

Victarion³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/2

Ran well in three bumpers but well below that form on hurdles debut at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) last time out and probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 542-0

Zebi Boy¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

40/1

Pulled up on racecourse debut and beaten 50L in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) subsequently. Others make more appeal today.

Form: P7

Forecasts

Rio Quinto (5/6), Victarion (9/2), Royal Tara (5/1), Louse Talk (8/1), Drovers Lane (16/1), Sartene's Son (22/1), Zebi Boy (40/1)

RIO QUINTO sets the standard today and he shouldn't be inconvenienced by the drop in trip having won over 2m4f on hurdling debut. The selection has to defy a penalty today but can do that in the hands of the promising Fergus Gregory who can boast a 27% strike-rate (9/33) when teaming up with trainer Olly Murphy. Rules newcomer Louse Talk was a winner in the point-to-point field in Ireland and can claim second ahead of hunter chase victor Royal Tara who is making his first appearance over hurdles today.