North Creake 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 12.3s

Celtic Joy⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle

16/1

Not devoid of promise in his second bumper and also on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon in October. Open to improvement and not written off here.

Form: 56-5

Skandiburg¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| C

8/11

Won a bumper here (good) in October. Ran really well on hurdles debut at Wetherby, when third to a couple of useful types. A repeat or better should see him go close.

Form: 4-13

Three Bullet Gate²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C Poste| T: R Dickin

10/1

Has shown a bit of promise both in a bumper and on his hurdles debut last month at Chepstow. More needed in this field and is probably more of a handicap prospect.

Form: 36

Bang Bang Rosie⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 120

3/1

Won a bumper and a maiden hurdle for Willie Mullins. Changed hands since last seen in August. Acts on good and if at her best, she should be capable of having a big say.

Form: 2-12342

Copper Gone West⁶⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

7/1

Bought for £100,000 after running out the easy winner of a mares' maiden Irish point-to-point last year. From a good family and half-sister to four winners over obtacles. Could go well on belated rules debut.

Form: 1/

Non-Runners

Parsonal¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: Mrs S J Humphrey J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Skandiburg (8/11), Bang Bang Rosie (3/1), Copper Gone West (7/1), Three Bullet Gate (10/1), Celtic Joy (16/1), Parsonal (20/1)

An interesting race in prospect, with easy Irish point-to-point winner Copper Gone West one to note in the market and Bang Bang Rosie perhaps having achieved most so far, but at the same time relatively exposed. Therefore SKANDIBURG, who showed plenty of promise at Wetherby, is taken to find sufficient improvement to break his duck. Celtic Joy looks a potential improver.