Elixir Bathrooms '18th Birthday' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:19 | Winning time: 4m 26.6s

Cross Of Steel¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

66/1

Has some smart relations in his pedigree (brother to smart hurdler Cross Kennon) who lacked match sharpness on his debut in a Bangor bumper. Now returns for his hurdles debut but likely to need time and a greater stamina test.

Form: 7-

From The Heart²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

8/1

Unfancied twice in two bumper races earlier in the year going off a 20/1 and 50/1 for this yard. The form was modest on both occasions (still looked green the second time) and now makes his hurdles debut back from a break.

Form: 80-

Frozon^h²⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C R King| T: H Bethell

100/1

Hard to be too enthusiastic about anything he did on the Flat earlier this year with his hurdles career hardly giving off many positive signals either. Very reluctant to start (refused first) on his last hurdles start; one to handle with care.

Form: 009R-

Nomination Game^h¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: R Dickin

66/1

Pulled-up on his only Irish point-to-point start his hurdles career so far has left a lot to be desired. Had one run for Ian Williams before making his debut for this yard on the back of a wind op; ran far too keenly and best watched.

Form: P6-P

Normal Norman¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: J Ryan| C

10/11

Took the junior bumper that concludes this card last year on his second start before adding an AW bumper to his tally. Fit from the Flat when making his hurdles debut (given plenty to do; finished second) and should improve.

Form: 2101P-2

Rebel Commander¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack BarberWS

16/1

So far has looked a far better article in bumpers with his hurdles form not getting anywhere near the same level when with Nicky Henderson. Now makes his debut for this yard on the back of a wind op and may better than he's shown so far.

Form: 8/228-3

William Hunter¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| BF

8/5

Useful handicapper on the Flat his hurdles form has yet to reach the same level although the test in soft ground when last seen in this sphere failed to suit. Not seen since June (ran on the Flat) this represents his easiest task over hurdles.

Form: 67/24P-

Forecasts

Normal Norman (10/11), William Hunter (8/5), From The Heart (8/1), Rebel Commander (16/1), Nomination Game (66/1), Cross Of Steel (66/1), Frozon (100/1)

Not a enormous amount of strength in depth here and although the Flat winner WILLIAM HUNTER has yet to really convince over hurdles his undoubted class should see him through here particularly on the good ground. A winner on this card last year Normal Norman represents the biggest danger after his promising hurdles debut while a wind op and a change of stables may see Rebel Commander produce something akin to his bumper form over hurdles.