Break From The Herd With Vertem Novices' Hurdle

5YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 4f 62y | 5 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 131

Kelso regular (four of his five starts have come at that track); drew well clear of the remainder when doing battle with the progressive Kiltealy Briggs (2m6½f, heavy) last month; fancied to complete a stellar day for Sandy Thomson & Ryan Mania.

Form: 65-312

Devour⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett

Bought for £8,000 in May 2019 (twice placed for Aidan Fitzgerald in Irish point-to-points); raced keenly and never better than midfield (100-1) on Catterick rules debut (2m3½f, good to soft); thought highly unlikely.

Form: 32-8

Do Your Job⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore

Bought for £150,000 (Oct 2019) after winning on debut for Colin Bowe at Castletown-Geoghegan (3m, soft); weakened on the long run to the final flight on rules debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) in December; has since left the care of Claire Dyson.

Form: 15

Le Cheval Noir⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

Cost €110,000 out of the Irish point-to-point scene (April 2018); game winner of a Kelso bumper (2m, heavy) on debut for Rose Dobbin; potentially far better than he demonstrated on his hurdles debut at Wetherby (fifth).

Form: 1/15

Marvellous Joe¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond

Soon beaten (66-1) on hurdles debut at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) three weeks ago and looks to be well out of his depth against these opponents; is totally unconsidered.

Form: 0-6

Forecasts

Elf De Re (4/9), Le Cheval Noir (4/1), Do Your Job (7/1), Devour (16/1), Marvellous Joe (33/1)

Both Do Your Job (debut for Michael Scudamore) and Le Cheval Noir (Rose Dobbin) cost plenty from the Irish point-to-point scene and should prove capable of winning more races for their current connections. However, the Kelso regular ELF DE RE created a strong positive impression when going down all guns blazing to the progressive 133-rated Kiltealy Briggs (pair well clear) at Kelso last month, and can complete what promises to be a stellar afternoon for Sandy Thomson and Ryan Mania.