John Haine Memorial Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 4m 15.75s

Pacific De Baune⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| CD

4/11

Impressive debut winner of a maiden hurdle on soft ground here in December but well held upped in class and trip at Cheltenham (heavy) subsequently. Represents a leading yard and likely to prove hard to beat under a penalty.

Form: 2-17

Article Fifty¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| D

7/1

Point-to-point and bumper winner but held in two starts over hurdles and it was a similar result in a jumpers bumper at Kempton last time out. Likely needs to improve if he's to register a victory today.

Form: 11366

Kloud Gate²⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

14/1

Useful horse on the Flat for Gianluca Bietolini and finished runner-up on soft ground at Deauville when last in action in June last year. Worth a check in the market on his stable and hurdling debut.

Form:

Top Decision¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Drinkwater

66/1

Placed in a point-to-point and registered his best finish under rules when finishing second in a novice hurdle at Sandown (2m, soft) earlier this month. More needed today however.

Form: 30072

Antunes⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: D Skelton

13/2

Placed on the Flat in Germany and ran well to finish runner-up on soft ground at Market Rasen on his hurdling debut in February. A repeat of that effort is likely to see him play a hand in the finish today.

Form: 2

Oden¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford

25/1

Winner over 1m2f at Brighton (good-to-soft) for Roger Varian last September. Purchased for 52,000 gns subsequently and is an interesting runner on hurdling debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Pacific De Baune (4/11), Antunes (13/2), Article Fifty (7/1), Kloud Gate (14/1), Oden (25/1), Top Decision (66/1)

PACIFIC DE BAUNE can get his career back on track by registering a second victory at this course in this novice hurdle. The selection proved a disappointment upped in trip and grade last time out but a return to this venue can see him defy a penalty with useful Flat performer Kloud Gate capable of finishing runner-up on his hurdling debut. Antunes ran well on his first start in this sphere and can finish third today.