starsports.bet Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 55.50s

Darsi Rose¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: L Hurley

100/1

Placed pointer was 200/1 and didn't disappoint in finishing tailed off here 13 days ago. Makes no appeal here.

Form: P42P6-0

Exod'ela²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

9/4

Irish point-to-point winner placed in two bumpers before second of 15 beaten 2½L in a 2m3½f novice at Hereford first time over hurdles. Wouldn't have to improve much on that so bold bid fully expected.

Form: 1-232

Finisher¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Mark Gillard

66/1

49-rated 12-race maiden on the Flat originally trained by Kevin Ryan. Hardly leaps off the page as a first time hurdles winner.

Form:

Lossiemouth³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| BF

2/1

Dual bumper winner fifth first time over hurdles before finding just one too good over 2m4½f at Ayr on heavy in a maiden. Looked for all the world like he wanted further there so this trip likely bring about improvement although none maybe needed.

Form: U11-52

Mister Timmytucks²⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: Louise Cabble

20/1

Two relatively underwhelming bumper efforts for Paul Nicholls last season leave this Kayf Tara gelding with a good bit to prove on stable debut.

Form: 65-

Unwin Vc²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 123| C

5/4

Dual bumper winner was third in this race last year and only beaten ¾L here later in the season. Third in a Ffos Las handicap latest off a mark of 126 a goo gauge of his ability. Should go well but less exposed duo likely have more to give.

Form: 9392-43

No No Tonic²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 83

66/1

One of the more exposed runners in the field and looks to have a very stiff task at the weights with an official mark of just 83 and easy to pass over.

Form: 0-34U76

Forecasts

Unwin Vc (5/4), Lossiemouth (2/1), Exod'ela (9/4), Mister Timmytucks (20/1), No No Tonic (66/1), Finisher (66/1), Darsi Rose (100/1)

This looks a three horse race on paper with preference for Tom Lacey's four-year-old LOSSIEMOUTH who twice won bumpers last term. He looked to be crying out for further at Ayr last time out so the extra 2½f today should be right up his street. Hereford runner-up Exod'ela should also appreciate the longer trip as a 3m point-to-point winner in Ireland earlier in his career and he may be the biggest threat ahead of more exposed Unwin Vc who was third in this last year.