Sadler's Brewery Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 3m 56.10s

Ruthless Article^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

11/10

Fancied for hurdles bow at Warwick (2m3f, good; 7-4) but folded tamely, quickly left that behind at Bangor (2m½f, good; 12-1) when decisively scoring in maiden company a fortnight ago; sets the standard on that showing despite conceding penalty.

Form: 52/249-1

Come On Come On^t1¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

10/3

Won twice in nine starts on the Flat and rated in the mid-80s. In excellent hands now going over obstacles and very much one for any shortlist starting out.

Form:

Epsom Day^h⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: B R Summers

150/1

Fair sort on the Flat, though only yielded a maiden success from 16 starts. Sent off 200-1 on hurdling bow at Warwick (2m, good) in April and backed out rapidly from three out. Hard to see him being the answer here.

Form: 0-

Last Chance Paddy²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies

50/1

Flat maiden, beaten wide margins in pair of 2m novice hurdles at Ludlow so far, has plenty work to do on that evidence and perhaps one for handicaps in time.

Form: 7-5

Adjutant⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy

9/4

Fair on the Flat for Brian Meehan, offered something to work with on hurdles debut over C&D in March, beaten just over 5L in seventh of 13 despite sketchy jump two out. Can build on that run with champion jockey booked.

Form: 7-

Made For You²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

20/1

Just three starts on the Flat, showing some potential, before Market Rasen hurdles bow (2m½f, good; 10-1) when beaten 25L in fifth of nine. Looks the stable second string here on riding arrangements and improved demanded anyhow.

Form: 5

Non-Runners

Graceful James⁷⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: J C Fox J: Patrick Cowley

Forecasts

Ruthless Article (11/10), Adjutant (9/4), Come On Come On (10/3), Graceful James (7/1), Made For You (20/1), Last Chance Paddy (50/1), Epsom Day (150/1)

Trainer Rebecca Curtis has an excellent record at this venue (23% strike rate) and her penalised Bangor winner RUTHLESS ARTICLE is fancied to go in again under in-form pilot Sean Bowen. He did things nicely on that second hurdling outing a fortnight ago and sets a decent standard. Come On Come On is greatly respected on debut for the Skelton yard while Adjutant should be capable of having a say in the finish if building on his hurdling bow over C&D in March and he now has the champion jockey to assist his claims.