Grampian Hotel Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 4m 58.60s

I'm Wiser Now⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: F O'Brien

11/10

Cost €75,000 as a 3yo; placed on all three starts in bumpers, including when finishing just under 2L third to Floating Rock at Catterick (1m7½f, good) in February; makes his hurdles debut at a realistic level with the champion jockey booked to ride.

Form: 333-

Ian's Gift⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley

100/1

Brian Boru gelding; half-brother to the 2m-2m5f hurdle/chase winner Crazy Jack; well beaten in a 2m1f Carlisle bumper (soft) in March; in deep on hurdles debut.

Form: 6-

Lake Baikal

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P MulhollandWS

10/1

Half-brother to eight winners including the useful 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Current Event; has already had wind surgery, but carries the JP McManus silks for racecourse debut; market helpful.

Form:

Skiddaw Valleys²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 121

1/1

Three-time Flat winner (rated mid-70s at his peak); placed on all four starts over hurdles; no match whatsoever for the Gordon Elliott-trained Braid Blue in a similar C&D maiden here (good) last month, albeit sets the standard.

Form: 3222-

Miss Batten^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

50/1

Well bred (half-sister to the smart staying chaser Shotgun Paddy); cost £115,000 out of the Irish PTP scene; has raced prominently before weakening in both starts under rules; needs to better those low-key efforts.

Form: 18-6

Forecasts

Skiddaw Valleys (1/1), I'm Wiser Now (11/10), Lake Baikal (10/1), Miss Batten (50/1), Ian's Gift (100/1)

I'm Wiser Now is an interesting hurdles newcomer for Fergal O'Brien and Richard Johnson, but the Nicky Richards-trained SKIDDAW VALLEYS sets a reasonable overall standard. Placed on all four starts over hurdles, he found only the Gordon Elliott-trained Braid Blue stronger in a similar C&D maiden last month. If able to reproduce that form under similar conditions, this race represents a decent opportunity to break his duck at the fifth time of asking.