Molton Brown Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 5m 34.8s

Redford Road²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

9/2

Went one better after a six month break to land a Warwick bumper (showed a good turn of foot) before following up first-time out over hurdles at Wetherby (2m4f, soft). Showed a good attitude (jumped well); capable of defying a penalty.

Form: 2-11

Vinnie Dev²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Aspell| T: Noel Williams

8/1

Successful on his fifth start in Irish point-to-points; strong in the market for his Rules debut over hurdles did well to get up after conceding first run at Uttoxeter (4f, soft). Sure to come on from that outing despite the penalty; sure to be invol

Form: 3F341-1

Frisson Collonges^t1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

40/1

Runner-up in the second of his Irish point-to-points he was easy to back on Rules debut over hurdles and pulled up after stopping quickly. In good hands and ought to capable of better; tongue-tie quickly reached for now; best watched on return.

Form: P2-P

Prince Llywelyn²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

3/1

Went one better than on his bumper debut winning at Wetherby second time out under a front-running ride (responded well to pressure). Looks a stayer in the making; confirmed that when second in a valuable bumper when last seen; good hurdles prospect.

Form: 212-

Valtor²³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| C| D

10/11

Smart ex-French chaser; won four times there and on his GB fencing debut here (3m). Highly tried after that, last seen when finishing 18th in the Grand National (jumped poorly in the main); hard to beat if he's near his chasing best back over timber.

Form: 2/671P0-

Forecasts

Valtor (10/11), Prince Llywelyn (3/1), Redford Road (9/2), Vinnie Dev (8/1), Frisson Collonges (40/1)

With Nicky Henderson saddling last year’s winner his Valtor is sure to be of interest with a rating of 152 in this sphere. However, he was last seen finishing well down the field in the Grand National and faces some progressive young hurdlers. Redford Road for one has already impressed over timber showing a good attitude when winning at Wetherby while the same could be said of Uttoxeter winner Vinnie Dev with his stable in good form (five of their last 10 runners obliging). PRINCE LLYWELYN is unpenalised and brings some very smart bumper form to the table, the 4th, 5th and 6th from his Newbury second all having won next time out; a winning hurdles debut could be on the cards.