Commission Free Racing At Matchbook 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 59.35s

Secret Investor^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| D

5/4

Won nicely at Stratford last time out despite idling up the run-in. Carries a penalty here but if progressing from that may be able to go close once again.

Form: 2/22721-

Always On The Ball³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: James Davies| T: C E Longsdon

25/1

Ran well for a long way on ruled debut at Uttoxeter last time on heavy ground. Step up in trip here should suit but still needs plenty of improvement in order to play a hand.

Form: 42-244

Criq Rock²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 125

9/4

Still yet to win over hurdles and possibly looking a little bit difficult to win with at this stage given how many times he's finished second, but effort over C&D last time gives him an excellent chance and ground should be fine.

Form: 225522

Oakley Hall⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128| BF

5/2

Beaten just a head having been sent off narrow odds-on for his most recent start at Huntingdon. Improvement needed on that but ground unlikely to pose an issue and jockey booking is a positive.

Form: 36-FF22

Over The Arch¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe

66/1

Down the field in two starts under rules so far having shown only moderate form in point-to-points and tough to build a case off the back of those efforts.

Form: 43-7744

Forecasts

Secret Investor (5/4), Criq Rock (9/4), Oakley Hall (5/2), Always On The Ball (25/1), Over The Arch (66/1)

Criq Rock has had a few chances by now but should still be capable of capturing a race of this nature at some point, while Oakley Hall was slightly disappointing when narrow odds-on last time out but is better than he showed there. But SECRET INVESTOR carries a penalty for winning at Stratford last time in what probably wasn't the strongest race, but he shaped as if there should be further improvement to come there and could be capable of overcoming the extra weight.