Mackie's Cream Of The Crop Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 3m 52.6s

Placedela Concorde^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 124| CD

5/1

Caused a shock when winning at 66/1 at Kelso in May. Proved that was no fluke though by winning again here over C&D two weeks ago. Should give it another good go but the double penalty makes life tougher.

Form: P/9P-131

Youghal By The Sea^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott

4/5

Bounced right back to his best when winning comfortably at Downpatrick last time. Should be able to build on that now and a major player here with champion jockey booked.

Form: 7213-01

Imperial Focus¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 115

9/1

Improved on hurdling debut to finish a close second to Placedela Concorde over C&D last time. Should get closer to that rival on these revised terms and should be more to come.

Form: 42

Reaplee^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant

200/1

Pulled-up on both starts over hurdles before unseating his rider at the first flight at Uttoxeter last time. Hard to fancy at present and best watched for now.

Form: 80-PPU

Zamarkhan^h1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile

200/1

Not shown a great deal and a long way behind a couple of today's rivals over C&D last time. Hood goes on but needs major improvement to be involved at the business end.

Form: P3/50-68

Ask Paddington²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| CD

11/4

Improved with each run in bumpers and won nicely over this C&D last time. Makes hurdles debut today and should be a leading contender if able to transfer that ability to jumping.

Form: 9-321

Tibbie Tamson⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd

300/1

All three starts so far have offered very little. Those runs have been spread apart though and should strip fitter for her effort at Cartmel last week. Probably capable of better at some point.

Form: 09-P

Forecasts

Youghal By The Sea (4/5), Ask Paddington (11/4), Placedela Concorde (5/1), Imperial Focus (9/1), Zamarkhan (200/1), Reaplee (200/1), Tibbie Tamson (300/1)

Ask Paddington improved with every start in bumpers and should be a player here if able to convert that form over hurdles. Placedela Concorde has really improved of late but may find conceding the double penalty a bit too much so preference is for YOUGHAL BY THE SEA. Gordon Elliot's charge clearly wasn't right at Bellewstown but really bounced back to from last time and has the assistance of Richard Johnson today. He is taken to win again.