British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 5m 29.5s

Shang Tang²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 129

15/8

Won a 2m5f novice hurdle at Ascot in November. Failed to complete next 2 starts but did go with zest for a long way before not seeing his race out at Doncaster (3m) latest. This more suitable.

Form: 0-31FP5

Captain Morgs⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| BF

5/6

Second in Warwick bumper and made no mistake when landing an Ascot novice hurdle (15.7f) in October. Close second behind another useful sort at Kempton (2m) since and likely more to come up in trip.

Form: 212

Gericault Roque^h,t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

9/2

Shaped well when second in Newton Abbot bumper in the autumn and rallied well to make it first time lucky over hurdles at Plumpton (15.9f) after a wind op last month. Open to improvement up in trip.

Form: 4-21

Alfoski³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

200/1

€25,000 3-y-o, Aizavoski gelding. Offered little in a bumper/maiden hurdle so far this winter. One for low-grade handicaps in all probability.

Form: 7P

Forecasts

Captain Morgs (5/6), Shang Tang (15/8), Gericault Roque (9/2), Alfoski (200/1)

CAPTAIN MORGS has shown plenty over hurdles, winning at Ascot before losing little caste in defeat when runner-up behind another useful prospect at Kempton in November. He's bred to do even better over this trip and can get back to winning ways. Shang Tang will benefit from the drop in distance/return to calmer waters, whilst Gericault Roque can improve further.