ASE 30th Year Birthday Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 3m 42.30s

Gortroe Joe³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 126

2/1

Has plenty of experience and his official rating sets a high standard. Doubts this will be far enough, but expect him to be more positively ridden this time than in previous ventures at 2m.

Form: 3544-12

Banish^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: T R George

66/1

Three time Flat winner but well held in three starts over hurdles since joining this yard and others hold stronger claims

Form: 804

Court Royale²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

4/1

Has jumped right on both previous hurdle starts so no surprise to see him come here. Stable won this three times between 2011-2014.

Form: 2-33F3

Kreb's Cycle³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

33/1

Three-time winner on the Flat, including for this yard. Not at his best on the level this summer and his hurdling debut was shortlived (burst blood vessel).

Form: P

Panic And Run⁵⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly

25/1

Some promise in a couple of bumpers but not enough to suggest he will be good enough in this company.

Form: 55-

That's A Given¹⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| D

1/1

Half-brother to Wait For Me made a successful bumper debut before heading off to the Punchestown Festival. Stable in great form and this provides a good opportunity on hurdling bow.

Form: 10-

Sid Hoodie^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C J Mann

50/1

Newton Abbot maiden bumper winner has not shown enough in either hurdling start to be a threat to the leading fancies here.

Form: 842164

Forecasts

That's A Given (1/1), Gortroe Joe (2/1), Court Royale (4/1), Panic And Run (25/1), Kreb's Cycle (33/1), Sid Hoodie (50/1), Banish (66/1)

Gortroe Joe has the experience but he has disappointed in the past and this may not be his optimum trip. He lacks a bit of pace so will need to be ridden from the front. That may make him a sitting duck for THAT'S FOR ME who looked useful when quickening away from his rivals on his bumper debut. The competitive bumper at the Punchestown Festival was a step too far, but he only needs to run to a mark of around 120 to be good enough for this and his stable had three winners at Exeter on Tuesday.