toteexacta Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 2.6s

Blu Cavalier¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| C

11/10

Jumped well when opening his account over hurdles last time. Stays well so the longer trip should not be an issue and good amateur is on board to offset a penalty. Stable have had four winners and three placed from eight runners in this contest.

Form: 14/2441

Dentley De Mee^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 128| C

13/8

Both victories have been gained on much better ground than he will get here, but he handled soft conditions well when putting up a career best in the Grade 3 EBF Final last time. Cheekpieces removed here but he will still be a threat to all.

Form: 312832

Book Direct⁵⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 124

9/2

Ran into a useful sort on his last start which came in 2016. Would need to be fully wound up and to have improved a few pounds more in order to trouble the principals.

Form: 3/22-

Marble Moon³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

66/1

Placed in a couple of bumpers for James Dullea, but disappointing so far over hurdles and in a tough heat this time.

Form: 324777

Mead Vale¹⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

100/1

Cost £800 as a two-year-old and related to bumper/2m5f chase winner Kolaphos. Tailed off on bumper debut and hard to fancy in this company.

Form: 0

Eddies Pearl¹⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: B Forsey

150/1

Third on her completed start in point-to-points it's hard to be too enthusiastic over her bumper/hurdles form and she looks sure to start a big price again.

Form: P43-100

Ruby Fool^p1⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: R Mitford-Slade

16/1

Winning point-to-pointer from a small yard that have had some success with similar types this season. In a tough race for debut although the stable pulled off a 100/1 shock here in December.

Form: 342213

Forecasts

Blu Cavalier (11/10), Dentley De Mee (13/8), Book Direct (9/2), Ruby Fool (16/1), Marble Moon (66/1), Mead Vale (100/1), Eddies Pearl (150/1)

Book Direct looked a promising type when last seen in 2016, but this surely rests between Dentley De Mee and BLU CAVALIER. The former produced a huge run at Sandown last time when conditions were soft. His two wins have come on quicker ground and he will face the most attritional going of his career this afternoon. On BHA ratings he meets the selection on 7lb worse terms than if this was a handicap. Paul Nicholls has a good record in this race and his runner here proved last time that he handles desperate ground particularly well.