Biggest Ever Jumps Season On Racing TV Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 14.65s

Methodtothemadness^t1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112

11/4

Weakened quickly on first two handicap starts at Newcastle and Carlisle; had shown promise last year when winning a novice hurdle at Carlisle in October; has been eased a few pounds and fair chance tongue-tied for first time.

Form: 32-3158

Overcourt⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110

4/6

Has been progressing nicely on his limited hurdles appearances with his best effort coming last time at Kelso; eased slightly in the weights and should go well if improving again.

Form: 8853

Paper Roses³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 107

5/1

A career record of 0-16 (0-13, hurdles) rings some alarm bells although on occasions she has gone close to breaking that sequence; two latest starts have been poor and needs to bounce back to master her rivals.

Form: 4/242-66

Iona Lad²²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 106

14/1

Best effort to date last time out at Newton Abbott when a runner-up over a similar trip; not given an overly hard ride that day and can improve again; on the downside, it is his first outing since July.

Form: 3P-52

Forecasts

Overcourt (4/6), Methodtothemadness (11/4), Paper Roses (5/1), Iona Lad (14/1)

OVERCOURT has the potential to be better than his bare form and can land this if reproducing the form he showed last time out at Kelso. He is certainly going in the right direction and that performance rates some of the best in this contest. Paper Roses has the ability to win races despite never getting her head in front. Her main problem is inconsistency. If putting in one of her better performances than she holds a decent chance. Methodtothemadness has been struggling of late though he has some talent and probably deserves another chance to follow up on his novice hurdle success at Carlisle in October.