Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 5m 17.15s

House Island²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 126

20/1

Took his chance (odds-on favourite Enrilo disappointed) when making all in a Class 2 Introductory Hurdle at Ludlow (2m5½f, soft) three weeks ago; this race represents a much sterner test under an incurred 3lb penalty.

Form: 221-921

Enrilo²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BF| D

10/1

Useful bumper performer (2-3) who made a relatively seamless winning hurdles debut at Wincanton (2m4f, good); blew out badly on soft ground after taking a keen early tug behind the eventual winner House Island at Ludlow (2m5½f) subsequently.

Form: 141-15

Happygolucky²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 137

9/4

Jeremy gelding (cost £55,000); easy winner of a Stratford maiden (2m6f, soft) on rules debut and arguably bettered that bare form when third (beaten 3¾L) to Thyme Hill in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft).

Form: 2-13

Ofalltheginjoints²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 131

7/2

Joined Colin Tizzard for €75,000 in May; gamely fended off Flic Ou Voyou when making a winning rules debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) - solid form; narrowly beaten by Tuesday's Southwell winner Boss Man Fred at Kempton (2m5f, good) since.

Form: PP-112

Overthetop⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy

13/2

Cost £150,000 from the Irish point-to-point scene (brother to On Raglan Road); remains unbeaten following wins at Warwick (bumper) and Carlisle (2m4f, novices' hurdle), sluicing up by 12L at the Cumbrian venue; the sky is the limit.

Form: 11-1

Up The Straight²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| D

7/1

A fair maiden in point-to-points (left Donnchadh Doyle for £29,000 in May); turned over the well-regarded Cat Tiger (Paul Nicholls) when springing a 33-1 surprise on rules/stable/hurdles debut at Lingfield (2m3½f, heavy).

Form: 3/4242-1

Emmas Joy¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

7/2

Bumper winner; creditable third on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) - form boosted at Newcastle last Saturday; obliged at short odds next time when easily dispatching Captain Woodie & co (Warwick, 2m soft); sole mare in the line-up.

Form: 1258-31

Forecasts

Happygolucky (9/4), Ofalltheginjoints (7/2), Emmas Joy (7/2), Overthetop (13/2), Up The Straight (7/1), Enrilo (10/1), House Island (20/1)

A fascinating Grade 2 novices' hurdle. The sky is the limit for Olly Murphy's facile Carlisle scorer Overthetop who defends a proud unbeaten record (3-3). House Island took his chance (odds-on favourite Enrilo flopped on soft ground) in a less competitive race at Ludlow, while both Up The Straight (Lingfield) and Emmas Joy (Warwick) simply can't be knocked. However, after taking everything into consideration, the spotlight falls upon Kim Bailey's Happygolucky and Colin Tizzard's OFALLTHEGINJOINTS. The selection went down fighting under a penalty (Kempton) to Tuesday's Southwell winner Boss Man Fred, and that has the feel of rock-solid form.