Racing TV Free For A Month Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 6m 34.97s

Odds by:

Live Odds

Odds

Empire Steel

11/4, 5/2

9/4

Escaria Ten

8/13, 4/7

4/6

Portstorm

25/1, 28/1

33/1

Skiddaw Tara

16/1

20/1

St Basil

250/1

Western Aussie

10/1, 11/1, 12/1

14/1

Calle Malva

50/1

SP Book Percentage 107.5

Forecasts

Escaria Ten (4/6), Empire Steel (9/4), Western Aussie (14/1), Skiddaw Tara (20/1), Portstorm (33/1), Calle Malva (50/1), St Basil (250/1)

Empire Steel renews rivalry with Skiddaw Tara, and despite an incurred 6lb penalty should confirm Carlisle placings on a similarly testing racing surface, while Martin Todhunter's Western Aussie appears virtually guaranteed to appreciate stepping up in trip. However, it would take a brave and hardy soul to oppose the Gordon Elliott-trained (McNeill Family-owned) ESCARIA TEN. This £100,000 purchase dug very deep for pressure when breaking the maiden at Cork (3m, soft) a fortnight ago and can swiftly double-up on the opposite side of the Irish Sea.