17:45 Perth

Tuesday 30 July 2019

All17:4518:1518:5019:2520:0020:3021:00

Edinburgh Gin Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 3m 49.10s

Palixandre^t1⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs J Stephen

6/1

Purchased for £15,000 out of Nicky Henderson's yard after his easy Ludlow win in May, a good effort that gives him every chance under a penalty if he repeats it. Shorter trip probably not ideal but has to be high on the shortlist.

Form: 54-1

Purple King²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121| D

30/100

Twice a beaten favourite before finally getting his head in front (again at cramped odds) at Stratford last time. May do better going right-handed here, and as a recent winner, has to be respected, but likely to represent little value again.

Form: 832-321

Astute Boy^t⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: R M Smith| OR: 94

20/1

Looking regressive already, only minor promise shown in a few handicap hurdles and was pulled up in a weak race at Cartmel when last seen out. Needs to stop the rot, and quickly.

Form: 2488-5P

Barney's Caulker³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 70

100/1

More letters than numbers in his form and hard to see where the necessary improvement to get involved here is going to come from.

Form: P/R8UP-0

Enemy Of The State²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: A B Hamilton

100/1

No win in 18 starts on the Flat and is only low-grade in that sphere. Needs the hurdles to make a world of difference or he'll find this hard going on debut.

Form:

Lake Baikal¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N P Mulholland

7/2

Nicely bred but has been too keen for his own good in two starts here, and hurdling technique left plenty to be desired last time too. Ability is clearly there, so will be a threat if he can pull it all together.

Form: 23

Gripper¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 92

12/1

Midfield fourth over C&D here in May wasn't the worst effort but has been well below that form in three subsequent starts and as such, is hard to fancy here.

Form: 8-439P

Lopito^t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: C A McBratney

20/1

Runner-up in a Windsor handicap the highlight of his ten-race career so far, not totally disgraced on hurdling debut for new yard at Down Royal (made a noise) but hasn't progressed since, and is hard to fancy.

Form: 9P

Go Complain^t³⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 88

66/1

Second in a Sligo maiden hurdle (for Eoin Griffin) his best effort last year, regressed after that and was tailed off when last seen. Makes debut for new yard but likely to need the run after almost a year off.

Form: P/60200-

Forecasts

Purple King (30/100), Lake Baikal (7/2), Palixandre (6/1), Gripper (12/1), Astute Boy (20/1), Lopito (20/1), Go Complain (66/1), Enemy Of The State (100/1), Barney's Caulker (100/1)

Purple King didn't have to be at his best to win at Stratford and has been found another suitable opportunity, but he was pretty much all out to win there and under a penalty, might be vulnerable. Palixandre would look the obvious alternative, given he comes here (on debut for new yard) on the back of a win, but the drop back to the minimum might not be in his favour. So a chance is taken that LAKE BAIKAL settles better than has been the case, which may give him a better chance to showcase his talent.