Invest Southwest Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 4m 35.7s

Darcy Ward²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| CD

6/4

Point-to-point winner last May and came good at the first time of asking over hurdles, looking a useful prospect. All went wrong for him last time and clearly that's not his running, but chances if bouncing back to earlier C&D win.

Form: 2-116

Don't Ask⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 123| BF

4/5

Another that won first time over hurdles, staying on in game fashion to win at Bangor last December. Twice a beaten favourite since then rings a few alarm bells, but on form looks a player if coping with this likely quicker ground.

Form: 5-3132

Ringa Ding Ding¹²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

8/1

Half brother to a couple of winners and showed ability on bumper debut here last November. Got stuck in the mud last time and that run best forgotten. With top yard and should improve, so watch the market for a clue.

Form: 48

Mark's Folly¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Unlikely we'll see the best of her for a while yet, and on what she's shown in two starts she's one that needs a bit of time. Others make more appeal today.

Form: 5-5

Non-Runners

Lungarno Palace¹⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Alain Cawley

Forecasts

Don't Ask (4/5), Darcy Ward (6/4), Lungarno Palace (5/2), Ringa Ding Ding (8/1), Mark's Folly (20/1)

There's a possibility we'll see a better effort from Ringa Ding Ding here but he's got plenty to find, and preference is for those with the solid form. DARCY WARD needs a poor effort last time forgiving but he'd looked useful on his debut when winning here and can get himself back on track. Don't Ask also has a couple of questions to answer after twice being beaten at short odds but both he and Lungarno Palace should have more to offer.