BDN Construction 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 2f 140y | 7 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 125| BF

Twice a winner for Nicky Henderson and has produced e a couple of second-place efforts for this yard. Odds-on flop at Newton Abbot last time could probably be attributed to the heavy ground and he could easily bounce back in this company.

Form: 312823

Lookforarainbow^h1¹³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: Sarah HollinsheadWS

Hasn't pulled up any trees in a series of bumpers, most recently when beaten 30L at Uttoxeter in November. Subsequent wind surgery may have improved him but still hard to get over-excited about on his hurdles debut.

Form: 4-350

Powerstown Park^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: S Thomas

Won a point-to-point last year (in which only two finished) but no immediate promise in a bumper and maiden hurdle since switching to rules and looks limited. Interesting to see how he fares in the market compared to his stablemate.

Form: 31-04

Smuggler's Blues¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: T R George

Purchased for £50,000 after winning a point-to-point but only sixth in a Worcester bumper before finishing a credible fourth at Hereford (2m3f, soft) on his hurdles debut. Open to improvement and no surprise to see him figure prominently.

Form: F71-64

The Paddy Pie²⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

Six-race maiden in point-to-points who went on to show nothing in a couple of bumpers in his native Ireland last summer. Makes a hurdling debut for new British connections today and has plenty to prove.

Form: PUP-809

Trust Me I'm A Dr⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson

A 15 race maiden in point-to-points and was pulled up in each of his first four starts under rules until finding a modicum of improvement to finish fourth in a 2m novice hurdle here (good to soft) last week.

Form: PPPPP4

Magic Of Milan²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S England

Has a pedigree which suggests she should have something to offer, but shown very little in two starts over hurdles since being picked up for £6,000 in May 2017. Probably best watched in the short-term.

Form: 6-88

Non-Runners

The Cannister Man²⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: S Thomas J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Whoshotwho (1/1), Smuggler's Blues (5/2), The Cannister Man (4/1), Lookforarainbow (10/1), Powerstown Park (25/1), The Paddy Pie (50/1), Trust Me I'm A Dr (50/1), Magic Of Milan (66/1)

Whoshotwho sets a clear standard on his best form but didn't cover himself in glory on heavy ground last time and, with conditions likely to come up testing once again, could be worth taking on under his penalty. The steadily improving The Cannister Man is one option but preference is for £50,000 purchase SMUGGLER'S BLUES who offered something to work on when fourth in a better race on his hurdles debut at Hereford.