Crichton Bespoke Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 49.40s

Ruthless Article^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 122| C

10/11

C&D winner over hurdles in May, and is clearly the one to beat despite having to concede weight. Did little wrong when runner-up to odds-on favourite at Stratford (2m; good) last month, and should regain winning thread in this easier contest.

Form: 49-1242

Chapati¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: J Coulson| OR: 112

9/2

Showed evident improvement for the switch of stables when third over C&D on British debut. Champion jockey now takes over and he should have more to offer. Interesting contender, despite record standing at 0-8.

Form: 825-773

Have This For Now^h1,t1¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: S Drinkwater

25/1

Looks more of a handicap project on the basis of what he has shown in five starts so far. Unable to land a blow on both starts over hurdles, & work to do to reverse the form with Chapati from their encounter over C&D here last week.

Form: 40/566

Loving Your Work⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway

40/1

Sprung 33-1 surprise when shock winner at Salisbury in June (1m4f; soft), but struggling for form in the main on the level. Now has first start on the flat since November 2014, when he was tailed off in a juvenile hurdle at Huntingdon (2m; good).

Form: 0/

Winding Roe³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108

2/1

Made the frame but has never figured as a major danger in any of his three runs over hurdles. This is uncompetitive, but likely to find one too good again. Jockey currently operating at 33% strike-rate in last 14 days.

Form: 3-323

Forecasts

Ruthless Article (10/11), Winding Roe (2/1), Chapati (9/2), Have This For Now (25/1), Loving Your Work (40/1)

Another small field affair in which it is best to focus on those with proven form at this level. Two runners in this race possess just that in the shape of Chapati and RUTHLESS ARTICLE. The former ran an eye-catching race in third on his first run on these shores for his new yard. He should give the selection something to think about at least but the latter has already won over C&D back in May, and has since followed that up with a pair of fine efforts in defeat. Winding Roe has quite a bit to find with the aforementioned pair but does look best of the rest on what he has shown so far over hurdles.