Windsor Clive International Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 55.1s

Michael's Mount²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

1/5

Promising novice who scored at Doncaster on his debut in this code (2m½f, good to soft) and bettered that with a 13L third in the Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton last time. Carries a penalty this time, but likely to prove very tough to beat.

Form: 13

Come On Charlie¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Never involved on debut at Wincanton in October (1m7½f, good) and weakened quickly from three out back over that C&D earlier in the month (soft). Needs a lot of improvement on that to be a player here.

Form: 90

D'waterside²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Loughnane

100/1

Rated just 50 on the Flat and not yet threatening to go much beyond that in two starts over hurdles at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) and here over C&D (soft). Stable in decent form, but this gelding is another in need of plenty of improvement to figure.

Form: 90

Helf^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

66/1

Has recorded similar efforts in both runs so far at Doncaster and more recently Warwick (heavy). Suggested last time that there is a bit to build on, though likely to make more appeal over further and in handicaps.

Form: 99

Never A Word^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

14/1

Ran with promise when 66-1 on his hurdles debut at Warwick (2m, good to soft) last month and would probably have been closer but for a blunder at the last. Can step up on that here and is one of the more likely contenders.

Form: 4

Temir Kazyk¹³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Henry OliverWS

66/1

Beaten 73L on debut over C&D (good to firm) in October and pulled up at Warwick a month later. Not seen since and now returns after wind surgery. That will need to induce plenty of improvement to see him involved today.

Form: 7P

Veiled Secret^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis

9/2

Rated 76 on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott. 14-1 and ran well for a long way on hurdles/stable debut at Doncaster last month, before being beaten 23L. That offers possibilties of better this time and he looks to have place claims.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Michael's Mount (1/5), Veiled Secret (9/2), Never A Word (14/1), Come On Charlie (20/1), Helf (66/1), Temir Kazyk (66/1), D'waterside (100/1)

A very modest start to proceedings where the standard is very much set by MICHAEL'S MOUNT, who looks to have been found a good opportunity to defy a penalty and record another win. Never A Word raised an eyebrow or two with a decent effort at big odds on his debut and he looks the most plausible challenger to the selection on that evidence, with Veiled Secret also one with frame claims. Improvement from Come On Charlie, given his trainer/jockey combo, cannot be ruled out.