In Play Betting At 188Bet Novices' Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 47.4s

Djingle^h1⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

7/2

Hooded for his debut for a new yard (wore one in all his French Races) having shown some fairly useful form over hurdles in France with his best form coming when taking a Listed event at Auteuil by 6L. Looks the sort to progress further but does have to give weight away to the entire field.

Form: 411

Vision Des Flos^t1⁵⁷

15/8

Tongue-tie on for the first time and has his first run here since having undergone some wind surgery. A repeat of his best effort when third in a Grade 2 novice at Chepstow would see him go close here having been beaten at odds-on last time out.

Form: 1-342

Mercenaire³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams| OR: 135| CD

6/5

Put up his best performance so far when winning over C&D in November as an odds-on favourite making all and travelling strongly. Had a much stiffer task on his only subsequent start when finishing third in a Grade 1 at Chepstow; has a sound chance at the weights based on ratings.

Form: 8-13

Solo Saxophone^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

12/1

Fairly useful on the Flat (son of Frankel) he's so far unbeaten over hurdles having taken two juvenile events. Overcame the run of the race to win at Wetherby last time and open to further progress over hurdles.

Form: 11

Dartmoor Girl^t⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 88

250/1

Failed to show much on the Flat (remains a maiden) and has finished well held in all her three hurdles outings. Faces a stiff task at the weights.

Form: 736

Forecasts

Mercenaire (6/5), Vision Des Flos (15/8), Djingle (7/2), Solo Saxophone (12/1), Dartmoor Girl (250/1)

Two trainers Paul Nicholls and Colin Tizzard have taken the past four runnings of this between them and it may well be the former who scores again this year with his new addition to the stable DJINGLE who despite having to give weight to all has the class to win this. Vision Des Flos has had some wind surgery since he flopped as a long odds-on shot last time out and could well do better although Mercenaire with his C&D form looks to be the main danger. Solo Saxophone isn’t out of place here but this is a stiffer task that he’s faced over hurdles so far.