Elizabeth Day Supporting Injured Jockeys Fund Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 4m 12.90s

Thomas Darby²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 140| BF| D

4/6

Improving novice, followed up excellent head second at Ascot with a close third at Kempton, the track perhaps not suiting him. Penalty to carry here but that won't stop him if he's in the same form. The one to beat.

Form: 1123

War Brigade²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Ian Williams| OR: 124

4/1

Useful on the Flat and has already converted that ability to hurdles, winning at Market Rasen last time out and showing a good attitude in the process. Plenty to find with Thomas Darby on bare form, but going the right way and likely to improve.

Form: 21

Blue N Yellow²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| D

6/1

Won a little bumper at Worcester on debut in 2017 but only seen twice since then, suggesting he's been hard to train, and although second at Uttoxeter in June wen last seen, that's only weak form. Needs much more here.

Form: 1-72

Emmpara^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M D Grant| T: D J S Ffrench Davis

150/1

Beaten the grand total of three horses home in three starts so far and looks very limited on what we've seen. No realistic chance here.

Form: 60-0

Ourmullion^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

5/1

Had some ability on the Flat (a winner over 10f at Nottingham last summer, good to form ground) and may make a hurdler in time, but biting plenty off on debut over timber here and can only be watched.

Form:

Fingal Girl¹⁵⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Hicks⁽⁷⁾| T: S D Dixon

66/1

Sent off 66-1 for a 7f maiden at Galway on only start, beating one home. Has changed yards since but looks the most unlikeliest of winners here.

Form:

Forecasts

Thomas Darby (4/6), War Brigade (4/1), Ourmullion (5/1), Blue N Yellow (6/1), Fingal Girl (66/1), Emmpara (150/1)

As much as you might expect more improvement to come from War Brigade, and to a lesser extent, Blue N Yellow, this looks a first-rate opportunity for THOMAS DARBY to get back to winning ways. He has shown some solid form in good company and can take this en route to a tilt at better things.