Ladbrokes Download The App Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 32.60s

Luckofthedraw^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123| C

6/4

Bumper winner here on heavy ground in November and off the mark at the second attempt when winning a 2m novice hurdle here earlier this month. One to note upped in trip here.

Form: 3-41341

Oxwich Bay³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 122| CD

7/4

C&D maiden hurdle winner on heavy ground in December and placed here since. Pulled up in a Grade 3 at Sandown (soft) last time and this looks a less competitive contest.

Form: 221F2P

Another Emotion²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

10/3

Placed in a point-to-point in spring 2016 and finished 6L second at Chepstow (2m, heavy) on rules debut last month. Step up in trip in his favour in this contest.

Form: U2-2

Faint Hope¹⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: L Heard| T: G Harris| OR: 115WS

12/1

Placed in a maiden hurdle on good ground in November but held twice on soft since. Returning from a break having had wind surgery earlier this year.

Form: 4-67355

Non-Runners

Cold As Ice⁸⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: Miss V Williams J: Hugh Nugent

Forecasts

Luckofthedraw (6/4), Oxwich Bay (7/4), Another Emotion (10/3), Faint Hope (12/1), Cold As Ice (14/1)

LUCKOFTHEDRAW can defy a penalty by registering his second course success in this opening novice hurdle. The selection shaped as if he'd appreciate this trip when winning here last time out and he can see off fellow penalised runner Oxwich Bay who drops in grade today while Another Emotion, runner-up on rules debut last time is another likely to improve for the step up in trip having placed in a point-to-point.