Duncan & Margaret Sinclair Memorial Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 53.1s

Delire D'Estruval³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 136

1/3

Carries a double penalty for two wins on testing ground earlier in the season and ran a solid race at the Cheltenham Festival last month. This is much easier and he sets the standard. Trainer though yet to have a winner at this track from 6 runners.

Form: 2-41310

Ask Jd²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs A C Hamilton

25/1

Maiden point to pointer ran satisfactory first race under Rules when distant third at Sedgefield last time hinting he can win a race or two, but much more needed to score in this event.

Form: 4F-5223

Calix Delafayette^h¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: J EwartWS

9/2

Landed Ayr bumper on debut in good fashion and travelled well for a long way on hurdles bow before weakening. Has had wind surgery since so is of interest for yard in very good form at present.

Form: 1-5

Johnny Pedlar⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson

40/1

Revoque gelding has shown only a modicum of ability in three starts to date and seems more likely to be competitive once tackling handicaps. Hard to enthuse over.

Form: 8-55

Sunny Destination¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley

14/1

Runner-up on racecourse bow in Ayr bumper back in November 2016, but a little disappointing so far in three runs over timber at up to 2m4f. Again has to contend with heavy ground and may do better once tackling a sounder surface.

Form: 2-654

Koala Keel^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

28/1

Second in Exeter bumper last term on Rules debut for previous handler. Showed a little promise at Carlisle on first start for new connections, racing in touch until weakening 2 out. More needed to figure here though and looks up against it.

Form: 22-4355

L'attendue¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby

40/1

Had three quick runs in March and didn't run badly at Wetherby last time but like a number of others in this race needs to considerably raise her game if she's going to land the spoils, although gets all the allowances.

Form: P84

Forecasts

Delire D'Estruval (1/3), Calix Delafayette (9/2), Sunny Destination (14/1), Ask Jd (25/1), Koala Keel (28/1), Johnny Pedlar (40/1), L'attendue (40/1)

This race looks to be at the mercy of southern raider D’ELIRE D’ESTRUVAL who brings a different class of form to the table to his six rivals. He is hard to oppose. Best of the rest may prove to be in-form James Ewart’s Calix Delafayette who may find further improvement following a wind op, while L’attendue also has place prospects if building on her latest effort.