EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 3m 40.25s

Grand Sancy^h²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136

4/6

Smart hurdler who returned to win a handicap off 125 on return to action at Chepstow last month. Beaten into second on return to novice company last time at Kempton but that developed into a sprint in a slowly run race. Leading contender once again.

Form: 224P-12

Shiroccan Roll³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 122

9/4

Steadily improving over hurdles having broke his duck at Newton Abbot in September he ran well to be a close second under a penalty at Worcester last time. Still potential improvement to come but this is tougher once more.

Form: 5-312

Across The Park¹⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Blackford

150/1

Tailed off on two starts in bumpers this summer. Looks to need further and probably fences before we see improvement. Hurdles debut.

Form: 67

Brigade of Guards²³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

10/1

Held in a couple of bumpers in the spring but the first effort in particular showed plenty of promise. Should do better now tackling hurdles and yard have made a good start to the season. Interesting on hurdles debut.

Form: 59-

Kilbrew Boy^h¹⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case

25/1

Showed clear signs of ability when finishing a runner-up in a 3m Irish point-to-point on soft ground in November. Picked up for £75,000 on the back of that but was well held in sole bumper start in the spring. Hurdles debut today and should improve.

Form: 20-

Melchior King¹⁸²

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

20/1

Sent off favourite for bumper debut but failed to live up to market expectations. Well held in only other start in a time when the stable were not having the best of things. Should improve now going hurdling and market check very much required.

Form: 6-7

Nifty At Fifty^h1¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott

20/1

Showed glimmers of ability in a couple of bumpers in the spring including here on debut. Hood fitted for hurdles debut and needs to improve.

Form: 5-6

Forecasts

Grand Sancy (4/6), Shiroccan Roll (9/4), Brigade of Guards (10/1), Nifty At Fifty (20/1), Melchior King (20/1), Kilbrew Boy (25/1), Across The Park (150/1)

Grand Sauncy got caught out by a steady pace at Kempton last time and sets a pretty good standard for the others to aim at there. He could face a couple of serious rivals in the form of the newcomers Melchior King and BRIGADE OF GUARDS. The first-named ran below expectations on a couple of starts in the spring but shouldn't be underestimated on return to action here. Preference is for the latter who shaped with promise in bumpers and could be another from the yard to improve for hurdling.