Pennant Walters Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 32.24s

Blue Laureate^v³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| C

11/4

Useful stayer on Flat who took a step forward from hurdling debut form over 4f longer trip when runner-up at Haydock last December, unlucky not to win after losing momentum late on. Leading claims.

Form: 52-

Gladiateur Allen

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs J Williams

5/1

Saint Des Saints gelding. Dam, 17f-21f hurdle/chase winner, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/smart chaser (stays 33f) Auvergnat.

Form:

Mr Grey Sky³⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

10/11

€92,000 son of Fame And Glory who won both starts in bumpers in December 2018. Shaped as if better for the run after 11 months off on hurlding debut at Ascot last November and he's likely to improve.

Form: 11/3-

Pats Fancy¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

12/1

Placed twice in Irish points and went like the best horse when denied late here on Rules debut. Disappointed bearing in mind that promise when well beaten at Hereford and now makes hurdles debut.

Form: 242-26

To Be Sure⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

66/1

£22,000 buy after finishing runner-up in his sole start in points in February. Some promise in a 2 starts over hurdles at Chepstow, finishing with running left 9 days ago. Handicaps look his target.

Form: 2-66

Getaway Flyer¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: D Brace| D

100/1

Little impact in bumper/mares' maiden hurdle in 2018 but shaped as if needing the run on first Rules start for over 2 years at Hereford earlier this month.

Form: 421/15-9

Lilith^t1²⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| D

14/1

€28,000 3-y-o, £52,000 5-y-o, Stowaway mare. Sister to bumper winner/useful hurdler Monkshood. Dam (c100/h108), bumper/2m hurdle winner. Wears tongue strap. Off the mark in points at third attempt.

Form: 2F1-

Forecasts

Mr Grey Sky (10/11), Blue Laureate (11/4), Gladiateur Allen (5/1), Pats Fancy (12/1), Lilith (14/1), To Be Sure (66/1), Getaway Flyer (100/1)

Dual bumper winner MR GREY SKY shaped as if in need of the experience when third at Ascot on his hurdling debut last November. This step up in trip looks the way to go, and with further improvement a distinct possibility, he can make a winning reappearance. Blue Laureate looks the main danger back over timber for the first time in almost a year, ahead of point-winner Lilith.