Bet At toals.com Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:23 | Winning time: 6m 36.9s

General Custard^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 123

7/1

Looked rather inexperienced and far from the finished article in bumpers but has returned from a wind op and a break to win on his second hurdles start (coped well with the 2m trip). Now steps up to 3m for the first time under a penalty.

Form: 42P-12

Net De Treve²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

5/2

Only lightly-raced so far but showed ability in bumpers whilst suggesting that he would be better given a stamina test. That proved to be the case when he won on his hurdles debut (2m4f); outclassed last time and will find this more to his liking.

Form: 2/3-517

Fenjack^h1¹⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: Laura Morgan

66/1

Yet to run under Rules but did show a little ability in point-to-points on a couple of starts without winning. Now dons a hood for his hurdles/stable debut with the experience likely to be needed.

Form: 42

Johnny Ocean³²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| D

5/1

Winner of his only start in Irish point-to-points he's so far not shown much over hurdles (pulled up both times). Now given a break he's likely to do better this time around but still lacks experience; from a yard that is going well.

Form: 1/PP-

Rainbow Stripes^p1¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

200/1

Looks a late comer to hurdling having had a wind op before his debut which was underwhelming to put it mildly; pulled up at Warwick (100-1). Unlikely to show much more here and others are much preferred.

Form: P4P-PPP

Reve⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: M Keighley

25/1

Fair performer on the Flat in France (winner on the AW over 1m5f) but ran well below that level on his hurdles debut despite starting at single-figure price. Could well come on for that run given his Flat form; little way behind the main players.

Form: 7

Supremely Lucky³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

11/10

Has a good jumping pedigree having been a runner-up in Irish point-to-points and made an impressive start to his Rules career with a 2L bumper win at Chepstow. Shaped better than the result on his hurdles debut; better to come, up in trip.

Form: P/21-4

Forecasts

Supremely Lucky (11/10), Net De Treve (5/2), Johnny Ocean (5/1), General Custard (7/1), Reve (25/1), Fenjack (66/1), Rainbow Stripes (200/1)

The Chepstow bumper win that SUPREMELY LUCKY produced early in the year looks sound form but it was his return there a few weeks ago for his hurdles debut that appears even better and he’s likely to benefit for this step up to 3m with that run tucked away. General Custard couldn’t carry a penalty at Fakenham last time and it could well be a similar story here for this staying chaser of the future. Net De Treve will appreciate the drop in grade after finding the company too hot at Cheltenham last time with both Reve and Johnny Ocean expected to show more than they have so far.