Braund Family Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 6.80s

Ruthless Article^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 129

11/8

Dual winner this campaign including by 12L over an extended 2m3f at Bangor (good) three weeks ago. Also successful over an extended 2m at the same venue in May and is likely to play a leading role stepping up in distance.

Form: 9-12421

Dorking Boy^h,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey

4/1

Well beaten 40L sixth in a 2m1f novice hurdle on good ground here when making his seasonal debut last time out. Likely capable of better and is worth a check in the market in this contest.

Form: 18/74-6

Earth Spirit²⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

125/1

Struggled in a bumper at Exeter (2m1f, good) in May last year and was well beaten when falling late on when making his hurdles debut over this trip at Wincanton (good) in January. More needed on debut for this yard.

Form: 9P-

Shaman Du Berlais^h¹⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 125

5/4

Ran well to finish 7L second in a novice hurdle over an extended 2m7f at Hexham (good-to-soft) in March and finished 3L fourth at Bangor (2m7f, good) the following month on his only subsequen start. One for the shortlist on return from a break.

Form: 322F24-

Atomic Article¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Blackford

100/1

Beaten a head in a 3m point-to-point in Ireland in the spring but has struggled on both starts since switched to Rules racing including over an extended 2m2f on good-to-soft ground when making her hurdles debut here recently.

Form: 62-65

Bluebell Sally³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: M G Nolan| T: C J Gray| OR: 85

66/1

Point-to-point winner over 3m at Larkhill (good) in March and signs of ability in three starts so far over hurdles. More needed than when 39L fifth at Worcester (2m4f, good) last time out however.

Form: 2U6465

Non-Runners

Footloose¹⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: Jamie Snowden J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Shaman Du Berlais (5/4), Ruthless Article (11/8), Dorking Boy (4/1), Footloose (10/1), Bluebell Sally (66/1), Atomic Article (100/1), Earth Spirit (125/1)

SHAMAN DU BERLAIS showed good form earlier this year and having proved his stamina over further he can register a first hurdles success in this opening novice contest. Ruthless Article has been in good form so far this season and he can take second under top weight while third place can go to Footloose who is stepping up in trip.