Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 5m 17.24s

Does He Know²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 141| CD

11/8

Point winner who made the most of a good opportunity to open his hurdle account at Ludlow (21.2f) in October. Followed up in a much stronger race over C&D last time and sets the clear standard.

Form: 1/22-11

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Ballymillsy²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

16/1

Shaped well in a very hot Kempton bumper last season and did the same sent hurdling when third at Lingfield (19.5f) 22 days ago. Needs to step up considerably on that but may well do so.

Form: 4-3

Grand Mogul¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130

10/3

Point/bumper winner who was disappointing in 2 runs over hurdles last term but got his career right back on track when winning 12-runner Chepstow novice (19.4f) 17 days ago. Open to further progress.

Form: 41/P6-1

Petrastar^h,t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 131

25/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat for Clive Cox who shrugged off a double penalty to complete a hat-trick over timber at Perth in August. Well beaten in Chepstow Grade 2 since, though.

Form: 1-117

Polish²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| D

11/2

Fairly useful on the Flat and of a similar standard over hurdles, running up to his best when third of 6 in 3m novice here last month, despite making 2 serious errors. This demands more, though.

Form: 2145-43

The Grand Visir^p,t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 125

15/2

Smart stayer on the Flat who has been ticking over nicely this season. Shaped encouraging upped to 23f when last seen over timber and remains capable of better.

Form: U4/3-

Wild Romance³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

10/1

Runner-up in a point and looked an above-average staying prospect when making a successful hurdling debut at Chepstow (19.4f) last month, staying on to lead near finish. Likely to improve.

Form: 2-1

Forecasts

Does He Know (11/8), Grand Mogul (10/3), Polish (11/2), The Grand Visir (15/2), Wild Romance (10/1), Ballymillsy (16/1), Petrastar (25/1)

DOES HE KNOW put up a useful performance to double his hurdle tally over C&D 3 weeks ago, and sets a clear standard on that form, so he should prove hard to beat. If there is one lurking it may be Ballymillsy, who could prove a different proposition second time up over hurdles after shaping better than the distance beaten suggests at Lingfield.