John Pickering 'National Hunt' Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 4m 37.07s

According To Alex²⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly

18/1

Son of Al Namix who fetched £13,000 at Goffs. Finished seventh of eight in a Huntingdon bumper last March beaten over 30L. Best watched therefore on hurdles bow.

Form: 7-

Brandy Pad¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

33/1

Irish point-to-point winner tailed off in recent hurdle efforts at Uttoxeter and Carlisle so makes no appeal here.

Form: P1-90

Cawthorne^h1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

66/1

Winner on his second point-to-point start at Tabley before running poorly on his Rules debut in a maiden here last month finishing tailed off. Fell at the first when 125/1 at Carlisle latest so negatives at this stage outweigh positives.

Form: 41-9F

Heartbreak Kid²⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

1/1

30L winner of a Kirkistown point-to-point last March although only two finished. Anyone's guess then how strong that form is but having joined a top yard he has to be high on any shortlist.

Form: 1-

King Gypsy²³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

20/1

Son of Court Cave was pulled up in his lone point-to-point before joining this yard in the spring. Market probably the best guide today but others more obvious sorts.

Form: P-

Timeforaspin^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

9/4

Twice placed in bumpers here last season but made an underwhelming start to his hurdles career when a never involved fifth of six at Fakenham last month. Should improve for the experience and his first run of the season so better expected now.

Form: 6/723-5

Wbee⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer

11/2

Built on promise of third start when winning a Stratford bumper in September beating an odds-on favourite beaten three times since. Bred to appreciate hurdles and in an ordinary race he has among the more obvious claims.

Form: 4621

Forecasts

Heartbreak Kid (1/1), Timeforaspin (9/4), Wbee (11/2), According To Alex (18/1), King Gypsy (20/1), Brandy Pad (33/1), Cawthorne (66/1)

Although only two actually finished in the point-to-point won by HEARTBREAK KID in March that was due to the way he put his seven rivals to the sword from the home turn and based on that performance he looks the one to beat in an otherwise pretty ordinary looking race. Timeforaspin ran well here twice in bumpers and he ought to step up on his recent hurdles debut. Bumper winner Wbee is also likely to make his presence felt first time over obstacles.