Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Kennel Gate)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 50.04s

Master Debonair²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| CD

3/1

Winner of a Listed bumper at Cheltenham in November 2018; 'novicey' when a beaten favourite on hurdles debut at that same track, but much better over C&D (soft) next time when making all to easily fend off Tamaroc Du Mathan by 7L.

Form: 2105-21

McFabulous⁴⁴

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

4/1

Won three of his four bumper starts (beaten by Master Debonair at Cheltenham), most notably when taking the scalp of the exciting Thebannerkingrebel at Aintree (2m1f, Grade 2 soft); chinned at odds of 30-100f on hurdles debut at Chepstow (2m, soft).

Form: 1711-2

Ribble Valley²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 142| D

5/6

Has thrived from the humble origins of an Ayr bumper (November 2018) and remains unbeaten over hurdles following emphatic wins at Hexham (2m, heavy) and Wetherby (2m, soft); is the apple of Nicky Richards eye and a very smart prospect indeed.

Form: 161-11

Time Flies By³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| BF| D

9/1

Made a winning start to his career when beating Butte Montana by 1¾L in a heavy ground bumper at Cheltenham in October; was a beaten favourite (second) in a Listed contest next time; lacks the age/hurdling experience of his three talented rivals.

Form: 12

Forecasts

Ribble Valley (5/6), Master Debonair (3/1), McFabulous (4/1), Time Flies By (9/1)

A small yet extremely select field for the Grade 2 Kennel Gate. Mcfabulous has reportedly been well schooled since a disappointing hurdles debut at Chepstow while the talented Master Debonair has the all-important C&D hurdles experience, unlike the four-year-old Cheltenham bumper winner Time Flies By. However, the upwardly mobile RIBBLE VALLEY is surely one of the most exciting novice hurdlers to trek south for many a moon, and is truly the apple of Nicky Richards eye. He took a massive leap forward from Hexham when thrashing the Newbury winner Sir Valentine by a ever-widening 11L at Wetherby (2m, soft) and is strongly fancied to make his mark in graded company.