Luke Reardon 21st Birthday 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 29.20s

Laoch Beag⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 83

6/1

Maiden after four bumper and seven hurdling starts. Returned from a 728-day absence to finish tailed off over this C&D last month and hard to fancy on that evidence.

Form: 59042/4-

Officernisi^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 102

9/2

Was seemingly going backwards until showing some signs of improvement when a fourth, without ever really looking like getting involved, at Newton Abbot this month. That would be good enough to be go close in this company.

Form: 0/760P-4

Rio Gold^b1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 86

11/2

Irish-raider showed some improvement on his last start on his home soil, when looking like getting involved until a mistake two out in handicap company. More needed in first-time blinkers but can't be dismissed in a weak contest.

Form: 00UP-80

The Raven's Return¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 104

5/6

Sandown bumper winner on heavy ground hasn't yet translated that form to hurdles in four starts. Better when fourth at Warwick this month but made a lot of jumping errors. That run arguably sets the standard here though.

Form: 0/16P7-4

Dartmoor¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill

12/1

Cost £32,000 but so far was a disappointing beaten favourite on bumper debut and tailed off on this month's hurdling debut. Hard to fancy on that evidence but does represent a leading and in-form stable so market worth a check.

Form: 3-5

Non-Runners

Blazing Glen⁵⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 11

T: A E Jessop J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

The Raven's Return (5/6), Officernisi (9/2), Rio Gold (11/2), Laoch Beag (6/1), Dartmoor (12/1), Blazing Glen (25/1)

A tricky contest to solve where The Raven's Return has the best form to offer from his latest fourth, although the large amount of jumping errors is of obvious concern. OFFICERNISI was given a lot to do on his latest start but at least showed signs of progress and this rates as a good opportunity to kick on again. Rio Gold needs to improve further but also took a step in the right direction last time.