Somerset Sight Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 37.7s

Chef D'Equipe^h³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 129

2/5

Former French trained gelding won a 2m4f chase at Sandown last January and performed at a similar level first time out when second at Newbury. None from nine over hurdles in France but cut above these on all known form so hard to oppose.

Form: 6517-25

Long River Dancer²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

Son of Bollin Eric out of a flat maiden looked in need of his first run when eighth of nine in a Ludlow bumper last month. Better to come now over hurdles but leap of faith required for anything more than a watching brief.

Form: 8

Sign Of War²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

7/1

Improved on fair bumper effort when a staying on fifth of 12 on hurdles bow at Leicester 1m7½f. Longer trip should suit and handles fast ground so certainly not ruled out here and expecting further improvement.

Form: 45

Soldier Of Love³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: F O'Brien

11/4

Finished third in two hurdle starts to date albeit beaten 33L and 21L respectively in six runner contests. In good hands and top jockey aboard so should progress further but will need to.

Form: 27-33

Bastante^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: R Bandey

100/1

Form in point-to-points was mixed but she was a comfortable winner in her final start. Beaten by halfway and eventually toiled in ninth of 10 on rules bow at Warwick and again tailed off latest at Wincanton. Hard to fancy.

Form: 3/P41-97

Forecasts

Chef D'Equipe (2/5), Soldier Of Love (11/4), Sign Of War (7/1), Bastante (100/1), Long River Dancer (100/1)

CHEF D'EQUIPE looks to have been found a nice opportunity here by Philip Hobbs and this 135 rated chaser shouldn't need to be anywhere near that level to land the spoils even if this ground is something of an unknown. The selection's 17 races are more than his four rivals put together so he has that on his side too. Sign Of War is taken to give the selection most to think about with a step up in trip expected to suit with Soldier Of Love the other with some possibilities.