bet365 Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:06 | Winning time: 5m 33.70s

Banks O' Houxty^t1⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans

11/2

Decisively put in his place when a distant fifth to the highly-talented Ribble Valley on his hurdles debut at Hexham (2m; heavy). Entitled to come on considerably from that given it was his first run in over four years though.

Form: 1/5

Golden Chancer⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke

33/1

Impossible to fancy given the heavy defeats he has suffered on both of his runs over hurdles, most recently when tailed off at Carlisle (2m4f; good to soft) when stepped up to this trip for the first time.

Form: 5770

Lemon T²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| C

2/9

Looks to hold leading claims. Form of his runner-up effort on hurdles debut over 2m here last month has since been franked by the fourth. Won a bumper at this track last season too. The one to beat as he steps up to 2m4f.

Form: 51-2

Shouldn't Be Here³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson

66/1

Hopelessly tailed off on rules debut in a bumper over 2m here last month. Was in trouble a fair way from home then. Looks to have masses to prove on that evidence, and can therefore be readily opposed.

Form: P20

Weave Some Magic²⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: T Reed

66/1

Showed no improvement from modest debut effort when tailed off at Ayr (2m; good to soft) last season. Now starts out over hurdles, and looks to hold zero chance on all that he has shown so far. Best watched.

Form: 80-

Our Promise³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett

9/2

Hurdling debutant who has offered some encouragement in short career so far and was placed in one of her four starts in bumpers. Sixth at Ayr (2m; heavy) on return to action. Place claims in what looks a weak contest on paper.

Form: 4-346

Non-Runners

Mayo Star⁸⁰⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: N G Richards J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Lemon T (2/9), Mayo Star (11/10), Our Promise (9/2), Banks O' Houxty (11/2), Golden Chancer (33/1), Shouldn't Be Here (66/1), Weave Some Magic (66/1)

This is a pretty uncompetitive event which looks to concern LEMON T and Banks O' Houxty. The latter is evidently talented, as he showed when winning a bumper easily on his first ever career start. That was four years ago though, and although he ran respectably on return from that absence when fifth at Hexham recently, he now needs to build on that. Thus, the former is preferred given the form he has showed the last twice at this track, including when runner-up on hurdles debut last month. The step up in trip can unlock further improvement in this son of Sulamani. As for the minor contenders, Our Promise can run into a place given the hint of ability she displayed in bumpers.