EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 59.50s

Captain Drake^h²²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H FryWS

9/4

£115,000 buy following his lone point-to-point start (second) and began to pay that when making a winning debut in a Towcester bumper last season. Two pulled clear there but neither run since so form hard to rate but surely a useful prospect.

Form: 21-

Invisible Clouds¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex

50/1

Beaten identical distance of 18½L in bumpers at Doncaster (eighth of 11) and Plumpton (seventh of nine). Bred for fences and a true stamina test so this will suit a little better but still likely find a couple sharper.

Form: 8-7

One For The Team²⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams

12/1

Won lone start, a Wincanton bumper with a bit in hand although only three ran. Runner-up done little to frank the form although the third has belatedly won low grade handicap hurdles. Could do no more than he did and commands respect here.

Form: 1-

Quoi De Neuf²⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams

3/1

Won lone point-to-point (3m) impressively by 9L leading connections to pay €180,000 for him. Half-brother to four winners over hurdles so everything points to him making up into an above average hurdler and probably chaser.

Form: 1-

Redzor²³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

11/4

Improved in each of his three point-to-points, winning the last of them. Bought for £80,000 in April and joined a yard who can ready them at the first time of asking so fully expectant of him being competitive here.

Form: P31-

Smackwater Jack²¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

5/1

Beat all bar a previous winner and odds-on favourite on debut when going down by a nose in a bobbing finish. Third won since and fourth placed in next three so form looks solid and he is beautifully bred for staying contests so leading player here.

Form: 2-

Forecasts

Captain Drake (9/4), Redzor (11/4), Quoi De Neuf (3/1), Smackwater Jack (5/1), One For The Team (12/1), Invisible Clouds (50/1)

A really trappy contest this with six hurdling debutants who have all shown ability in either bumpers or point-to-points. A chance is taken on SMACKWATER JACK who went down by the minimum margin to a useful bumper horse from Nicky Henderson's yard on debut in a race that is working out pretty well. Captain Drake rates the main danger having won his lone bumper at Towcester and also showed promise in his lone point-to-point while Quoi De Neuf is another of significant appeal on his debut under rules after a very impressive success in his lone point-to-point.