bet365 Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 3m 57.3s

Newtown Boy³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

8/13

After finishing runner-up in in a couple of bumper's in the spring,. got off the mark at the first attempt over hurdles on Good ground at Hereford last month. The second and fourth have both won since so the form looks solid.

Form: 2-21

Esprit De Baileys²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| BF

5/2

Dual winner on the flat this year and did well when neck second on hurdling debut at Huntingdon last month. Raced a touch keenly on that occasion but open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 2

Lunar Jet¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Mackie| OR: 117

11/1

83 rated handicapper on the flat winning over 1m2f at Newbury in April, but yet to show similar level ability over hurdles and 6L to find with Esprit De Baileys from Huntingdon in November.

Form: U55

Mach One⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon

25/1

33/1 shot but showed some aptitude for hurdling when third at Plumpton on debut in this sphere last month. Had a dual winner behind him then and likely to improve for the experience.

Form: 3

Petite Jack³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N B King

33/1

Decent AW handicapper at his best but out of sorts when seen recently and well beaten on only previous attempt over hurdles in 2016. Something to prove at present.

Form: 6/

Emma Lamb⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe

18/1

Has shown ability in all four bumper's and would have got off the mark at Sedgefield last time but for swerving and unseating rider when 4L clear close home. That form has taken plenty of knocks however, and needs to improve on this hurdling debut.

Form: 552U

Forecasts

Newtown Boy (8/13), Esprit De Baileys (5/2), Lunar Jet (11/1), Emma Lamb (18/1), Mach One (25/1), Petite Jack (33/1)

The Hereford win of NEWTOWN BOY has received a few boosts this week and he can be another winner for the in-form Alan King yard. With improvement on the cards Esprit De Baileys looks the chief threat and Mach One is another with more to come at the winter game.