Barton Hill Old Boys RFC Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 20.4s

Getaway Fred²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 134| C

8/13

Course winner in November (2m, soft; 11-10f) and since run well (third) in strong Kempton novice hurdle at Christmas (conceding weight). Caught for toe that afternoon and step up in trip looks way to go with former point-to-point winner.

Form: F-1213

Echo Du Large¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens

20/1

Didn't achieve much in pair of bumpers at Exeter and Newcastle, 40-1 chance and beaten 44L on hurdles bow at Exeter on New Year's Day (2m1f, soft); needs a good size step forward.

Form: 486

Fado Des Brosses⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

11/8

Wide margin Irish point-to-point winner on debut, left clear. Cost £200,000 and improved on second start over timber at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy; 13-2) to be second. Could have place claims.

Form: 1-52

Thedancingman¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: L Heard| T: Mrs L J Young

66/1

Ex-Irish maiden, beaten just under 20L over minimum trip at Wincanton earlier in the month having gone off a 200-1 chance. Much more needed.

Form: 007

Brophies Doll¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: C Gethings| T: R Stephens

66/1

Point-to-point winner, showed his temperament when refusing to race at Ludlow in February last; unable to sustain effort from the front over 2m (heavy; 66-1) here this month on return from 320-day absence. Should be sharper for that effort.

Form: 5216R-6

Hanna Hvar^h⁴⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: T H Weston

66/1

By Derby winner Pour Moi out of a mare who won twice on the Flat. Not spotted since debut under rules in a bumper at Ludlow in October 2018 (fourth of seven) in a hood (retained now). Has changed hands since, hurdles bow.

Form: 4-

Non-Runners

Kepagge³⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Getaway Fred (8/13), Fado Des Brosses (11/8), Kepagge (7/4), Echo Du Large (20/1), Brophies Doll (66/1), Thedancingman (66/1), Hanna Hvar (66/1)

The top pair on the card appear the ones to focus on and preference is for GETAWAY FRED. He was giving away weight and just got caught for pace in what was a good contest at Kempton over Christmas. He should have plenty stamina for this test and is the one to beat. Kepagge is also improving though could do with being cleaner over the flights, while Fado Des Brosses looks best of the remainder.