Core Spreads Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 24.70s

Ilewin Geez⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 120

8/11

Lightly raced eight-year-old who missed nearly three years after showng form in bumpers in 2015. Scored first success over hurdles at Uttoxeter in June then not disgraced when third under penalty at Worcester Sure to be thereabouts.

Form: 3/25-413

High Command²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

11/4

Won twice at Southwell on the Fibresand at up to 1m6f on the Flat and makes hurdles debut here. Sure to have been well schooled and should stay, but forecast ground may be quick enough for him.

Form:

Lord Condi¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: M Keighley| D

9/2

Won modest Fontwell bumper in May and looked a little paceless on hurdles bow at Fontwell last time. Will be better for that experience and represents a good yard so has to be respected.

Form: 89-133

Noble Attitude⁶⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L C Jewell

66/1

Three runs at up to seven furlongs for John Best but absent 647 days and makes hurdles debut here for new connections. Stamina a big concern and may be best watched for the time being.

Form:

Dowhatudodobest¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: J E Moore| T: P W Middleton

20/1

Maiden Irish point to pointer has shown precious little in two starts under Rules at Southwell and very hard to recommend on that evidence.

Form: 3-266

Epsom Secret¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Phelan

33/1

Only win from 19 Flat starts came over 1m2f at Windsor last season. Out of a Galileo mare so should stay but likely to be better for this first hurdling experience.

Form:

Non-Runners

Panko¹⁵

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: A M Hales J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Ilewin Geez (8/11), Panko (15/8), High Command (11/4), Lord Condi (9/2), Dowhatudodobest (20/1), Epsom Secret (33/1), Noble Attitude (66/1)

With the champion jockey called on following a promising hurdles debut when second at Stratford recently, PANKO is a fairly confident choice to get off the mark over timber at just the second time of asking. Uttoxeter scorer Ilewin Geez has to concede 7lb to the selection and that makes life fairly tough but he should still run his race, while a fair display is also anticipated from Lord Condi. Any market move for High Command would be interesting although he could probably do with a drop of rain to aid his chance.