Jenny Lee Harris Memorial Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 5m 2.0s

Play The Ace^p,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 130| CD

9/4

Improved as a chaser last season, winning six times and reaching a mark of 139. Easy winner over C&D novices' hurdle 17 days ago and likely to make a bold bid follow-up effort.

Form: 1P-6P41

Mr Pippin⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr G Barfoot-Saunt| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

250/1

Failed to complete in both starts in point-to-points and well held in a bumper and a pair of hurdles starts in early 2017 when last spotted under rules. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 07/P-FUP

Super Moon¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

50/1

First start for this trainer came after 726-days off and brought with it a wide-margin defeat at Uttoxeter (2m6f, good) this month. Needs a big step up, in good hands however.

Form: 67/5

The Last But One¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126| D

8/13

Three-time winner over fences already in 2018. Has yet to score in seven tries over hurdles but is well capable of being involved at the business end in this line-up.

Form: 1F1F-32

Max Liebermann²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: J E Moore| T: J Ryan

16/1

Only two starts over timber and showed promise when third at Huntingdon in March. In and out time of things on the Flat more recently, unable to show much consistency. Player on a going day.

Form: P13-

Gnarly¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

14/1

Third in a point-to-point back in March 2017 but only shown a modicum of promise in a couple of starts over hurdles and likely one for handicaps down the line.

Form: 3/8-5

Forecasts

The Last But One (8/13), Play The Ace (9/4), Gnarly (14/1), Max Liebermann (16/1), Super Moon (50/1), Mr Pippin (250/1)

THE LAST BUT ONE and Play The Ace have done their best stuff over fences so far but they look the pair to focus closely on here. Paul Nicholls' charge has won three times over the larger obstacles in 2018 but he ran well over timber last month and receives weight from his main market rival now. Play The Ace scored over C&D this month already and should give his running, but might be undone conceding a penalty. Max Liebermann hasn't displayed a lot of consistency on the Flat of late but his Huntingdon third in March ensures he's also on the shortlist in what isn't a strong event.