Pudding Norton 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 12.7s

Bagan¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: T R Gretton

66/1

Put up a couple of reasonable efforts out of three in his bumpers. 20L third here on his hurdles debut recently. Will need to improve on that to figure.

Form: 4P43

Didtheyleaveuoutto²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Gifford| D

2/5

Smart dual bumper winner who ran well in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen. Bred to do this and should give a good account on debut.

Form: 110-

Starjac²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P R Webber

14/1

Showed promise both on debut in a bumper and then on his first hurdles start at Uttoxeter earlier in the month. Needs improvement on that, but far from written off.

Form: 5-3

The Very Thing¹⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| BF

10/1

Beaten odds-on favourite on debut in a Newcastle bumper in April, when the moderate pace would not have helped. May well be capable of better now going hurdling and is not ruled out on debut.

Form: 4-

We've Got Payet¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| D

50/1

Won a Uttoxeter bumper on debut in July. Below that in all three runs since, the last two over hurdles. Stable's second string on jockey bookings and has a bit to prove.

Form: 1495

West To The Bridge^h,t²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D SkeltonWS

7/2

Showed promise in bumpers without being able to win one. Was 10L behind Didtheyleaveuoutto in Ascot Listed event in December. Has had wind surgery since last seen in March. Market check prudent.

Form: D825-

Gold Runner²³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

100/1

Eight-race maiden point-to-pointer who looks best watched on her rules debut.

Form: 3F4BP2-

Forecasts

Didtheyleaveuoutto (2/5), West To The Bridge (7/2), The Very Thing (10/1), Starjac (14/1), We've Got Payet (50/1), Bagan (66/1), Gold Runner (100/1)

Given his bumper form, it is hard to look past DIDTHEYLEAVEUOUTTO on his debut in this sphere, and Nick Gifford's gelding gets the vote. The Very Thing is another interesting newcomer, who could make his presence felt, with Bagan and West To The Bridge others who could get competitive.