sunracing.co.uk Northern Staying Novices' Hurdle Series Final Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 5m 56.49s

Bialco^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 126

5/1

Pulled up over C&D in January but that was a rare blip on an otherwise consistent profile; off the mark over hurdles at Kelso (2m6f+, good to soft) a fortnight ago when fending off the odds-on favourite Aye Right by 1¼L.

Form: 522-2P1

Lord Du Mesnil^p,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Hobson| OR: 122

4/1

Maiden; finished a close third to Ask Ben in the French Furze over C&D in December and again ran well behind Nestor Park (beaten 7L) here in January; fell over fences at Catterick ten days ago.

Form: 32936F

Sam's Adventure^p1⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: B Ellison| OR: 118

4/5

Talented performer in bumpers (3-4); would've won up at Kelso (2m6f+, good) but for crashing through the wing of the final flight; reasonably solid since and looks to be closely matched with Lord Du Mesnil; cheekpieces applied.

Form: 21/3R24

Stop Talking⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 110

5/1

On a upward trajectory post wind surgery, landing the hat-trick in a determined manner at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in December; returns to action fresh from a break off an 8lb higher mark; capable of making her presence felt.

Form: 752111

Non-Runners

Ask Paddington¹³⁵

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: Micky Hammond J: Alain Cawley

Forecasts

Sam's Adventure (4/5), Lord Du Mesnil (4/1), Ask Paddington (9/2), Bialco (5/1), Stop Talking (5/1)

Lord Du Mesnil is an 18-race maiden but he's better than those bare figures suggest and has ran a couple of respectable races over C&D this season, most notably in the French Furze (third) in December. On the book, both Sam's Adventure and Bialco have a fraction more to do to improve past the Richard Hobson-trained runner but with cheekpieces now applied, there's every chance that the former can do so. However, the preferred option is the stamina-laden mare STOP TALKING. She has improved since undergoing wind surgery and arrives seeking a four-timer following winter wins at Southwell, Ludlow and Uttoxeter.