Racing TV Free For A Month Novices' Hurdle

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

Empire Steel³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

9/4

Changed hands for £20,000 in August 2019; kept on strongly to win unchallenged (by 12L) from the reopposing Skiddaw Tara on rules debut at Carlisle (3m1f maiden, soft) five weeks ago; is penalised accordingly.

Form: 4-331

Escaria Ten¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: G Elliott| D

4/6

Sold to the McNeill Family for £100,000 in December 2019; rallied under pressure to repel the challenge of Atlantic Shore at Cork (3m maiden, soft) the following month; this race provides an ideal opportunity to double-up under the incurred penalty.

Form: 1-231

Portstorm¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: I A Duncan

33/1

Has ability (as shown in bumpers); mixed fortunes over hurdles at this track with the form book indicating he has plenty of work to do with Skiddaw Tara; finished 12½L third to Marown over 2m4½f here (soft) 17 days ago; new trip.

Form: 327-F53

Skiddaw Tara³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 110| BF

20/1

Had appeared to be steadily progressive until thwarted by the now penalised Empire Steel at Carlisle (3m1f maiden, soft) five weeks ago; conditions are expected to prove similarly testing here.

Form: 7-432

St Basil⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd

250/1

Geordieland gelding; didn't jump well and was eventually pulled-up on hurdles debut at Kelso (2m, heavy) last week; this is a swift turnaround in a similarly competitive novice (new trip); look elsewhere with confidence.

Form: 0-P

Western Aussie⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: M Todhunter| OR: 112

14/1

Fell on hurdles debut (in the process of running well); has run to a similar standard of form in making the frame on both subsequent starts, including when beaten 9L by Young Bull at Wetherby (2m5½f, soft); new trip helpful.

Form: 63/F3-3

Calle Malva³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

50/1

Joined Lucinda Russell for £45,000 in May 2019; took a marked step forward from her hurdles/stable debut when keeping on well to beat Kauto D'Amour by 1¼L at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) six weeks ago; this looks much more competitive.

Form: 44-251

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.