Menabrea Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 47.50s

Marown⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| CD

8/11

An €80,000 purchase, the Milan gelding won his bumper at Newcastle last March and made a winning start to jumping career over C&D in January (second won next time). Penalised here but stable in scintillating form and likely adds to his tally.

Form: 1-1

Abrach Road⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan

100/1

Well held in two bumpers (including here) and tailed off 100-1 chance on hurdles bow in January over C&D; all to do meeting the penalised Marown again.

Form: 888

Aloomomo⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 112| BF| D

14/5

Much more experienced than these rivals, the ex-Warren Greatrex inmate won over fences at Kelso in January on second start back from 600+ days off; held here since over larger obstacles but should give decent account of himself.

Form: 270/515

Mig Des Taillons^h1,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alain Cawley| T: R A Curran

12/1

Good start when second in Down Royal bumper at Christmas (winner won again since) but not as good back there next time and wide-margin defeat on hurdles bow since at Punchestown (2m4f, heavy; 33-1) leaving him an uphill task here.

Form: F260

Penny Blak⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: K Dalgleish

4/1

Runner-up on bumper debut in 2018 and placed again Newcastle in December after 598-day absence; that form isn't overly strong and will surely need to improve to get off the mark on hurdles introduction. Should find easier opportunities in future.

Form: 2/3

Forecasts

Marown (8/11), Aloomomo (14/5), Penny Blak (4/1), Mig Des Taillons (12/1), Abrach Road (100/1)

Five of Nicky Richards' six runners this week have won, with the other finishing second. The stable could not be in better form and, even if that weren't the case, it would be hard to oppose MAROWN. He made a fine winning start to his hurdling career here over C&D in January and with that form firmly boosted since, he's expected to take the penalty in his stride now. Penny Blak has run well in two bumpers wide apart and should have a future over timber, ensuring he can join Aloomomo in the skirmish for the minor roles.