Visit attheraces.com Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 4m 25.1s

Baboin¹⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

16/1

Good ground Killarney bumper winner for Joseph O'Brien; absent since finishing a respectable third to Whenurgoodurgood in a Killarney maiden hurdle (2m4f) in July; has since joined Tim Vaughan for £10,000.

Form: 27-1263

Black Gerry³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

3/1

Runner-up for Donnchadh Doyle in a 3m point at Dromahane (soft) prior to changing hands for £66,000; raced keenly (33-1) when a weakening sixth of 13 to Fiddlerontheroof at Sandown in December (2m, heavy); these are calmer waters.

Form: 2-6

Soldier To Follow¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes

20/1

With Andrew Balding when winning on the Flat at Hamilton (1m4f, soft) in September 2018; left that trainer not long afterwards for 50,000gns; was challenging the winner (1-3f Neff) when falling two out at Fontwell (2m1½f, heavy) on Boxing Day.

Form: F

Waitonit⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

20/1

Fell with the race seemingly at his mercy on sole point-to-point start (Tyrella); drops back in trip after finishing a weakening fifth to Hurricane Harvey on hurdles debut at Ludlow (2m5½f, soft); still very early days with Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Form: F-75

Young Lieutenant⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex

4/9

Showed a strong level of form to win an Exeter bumper (2m1f, good/soft) around this time last year; has made a solid start to life over hurdles (Newbury & Haydock) and ought to prove capable of winning a race of this nature.

Form: 251-26

Non-Runners

Moynihans Girl⁶¹³

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: Mrs L J Young J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Young Lieutenant (4/9), Black Gerry (3/1), Baboin (16/1), Waitonit (20/1), Soldier To Follow (20/1), Moynihans Girl (66/1)

The Exeter bumper winner YOUNG LIEUTENANT made a solid start to life over hurdles when finishing second best to Sir Valentine at Newbury. Thrown in deep in a Listed race at Haydock subsequently, he paid the price for racing keenly when a well held fifth to the progressive Thebannerkingrebel. Switched back to calmer waters he should hold all of the aces against these rivals, some of whom ought to be winning races further down the line.