William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 11:48 | Winning time: 4m 26.9s

Mackenberg²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| BF| D

4/1

£90,000 purchase who landed first of 2 starts in bumpers and off the mark over hurdles in good style at Carlisle (17f). Good second despite sloppy jumping at Wetherby since and he's respected.

Form: UF/14-12

Straw Fan Jack³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 123

15/2

Much improved over hurdles in recent weeks, landing a Hereford novice (19.6f) prior to a cracking second on handicap bow at Ascot (19.2f) in October. Clear of remainder then and not discounted here.

Form: 04P-F12

Danehill Kodiac³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King

16/1

Smart on the Flat (stays 1¾m) and some promise to glean from yard/hurdles debut effort on back of 18 months off at Newbury last month. Suspicion he'll come on plenty for that.

Form: 8

Dargiannini⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| D

8/11

Made plenty of appeal on paper and looked something out of the ordinary when winning a Sedgefield bumper (16.8f) in October, powering to the line off a sound gallop. Most exciting hurdling prospect.

Form: 1

Fly To Mars⁶²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 123| BF

15/2

Showed plenty in defeat over hurdles earlier in career and looked set to show improved form when falling 3 out at Exeter (18.5f) in March 2019. Absent since and the market may prove a good guide.

Form: 62624F/

Fugitif^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R Hobson

25/1

Third in a 4-y-o hurdle at Nantes in France last season. Well held in a 20f novice here on yard debut last month and whilst he should come forward for that, this is a hot-looking heat.

Form: 57/3-5

Forecasts

Dargiannini (8/11), Mackenberg (4/1), Straw Fan Jack (15/2), Fly To Mars (15/2), Danehill Kodiac (16/1), Fugitif (25/1)

A very well-related individual, DARGIANNINI looked a most exciting prospect when making a winning debut in a Sedgefield bumper in October, always in the firing line in a well-run race and going clear impressively for a 20-length success. The type to make his mark in a big way over hurdles, he can come out on top, with Mackenberg and Straw Fan Jack heading up the dangers.