Sky Bet Fast Withdrawal Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 3m 58.8s

Defi Sacre^t1²⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: R Hobson| D

14/1

Won a French conditions chase on debut (2m1f, very soft) last March. Held when stepped up to 2m5½f (heavy) on only other start before joining this trainer. Reverts to hurdles for British debut and a market check looks prudent.

Form: 15-

Diamond Gait^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 127

5/6

Warwick bumper winner on debut last season, and also won a Ludlow maiden on her hurdles debut (good) in November. Decent effort when tried in Listed company at Newcastle last time. Considered.

Form: 1258-14

Fibonacci³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

16/1

Stays 1m7½f on the Flat. Improved on his hurdles debut when tried in a decent Haydock contest last time, but still needs much more than that in this field.

Form: 04

Lunar Jet²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Mackie| OR: 121

2/1

Dual Flat winner over 1m2f, both with some cut in the ground. Improving over hurdles, with his best effort being here (2m½f, good) last time. Looks likely to be more to come, and should be very competitive again here.

Form: U552

Magellan⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby

14/1

The best of these on the Flat (OR 90), although all three wins have been on AW, and he has really only once produced his running on turf. If he can do so now trying hurdles, then he could have a big say.

Form:

Norwegian Woods⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

66/1

Irish point winner on debut (yielding/soft). Well held on debut in a Chepstow bumper, but could see significantly better now back up in trip over obstacles.

Form: 1-6

Outofthequestion²¹

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

33/1

Dual fast ground Flat winner at Newbury last summer, at up to 1m5½f (OR 70). Yet to show much over hurdles, however, and probably one to consider more strongly when he goes handicapping.

Form: 740

Forecasts

Diamond Gait (5/6), Lunar Jet (2/1), Defi Sacre (14/1), Magellan (14/1), Fibonacci (16/1), Outofthequestion (33/1), Norwegian Woods (66/1)

An interesting race, with Magellan a potentially good recruit to this code who could go well, Lunar Jet and likely contender and French winner Defi Sacre another to monitor in the market on debut. However, DIAMOND GAIT has shown enough so far to believe that she can win again.