South West Syndicate Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:39 | Winning time: 3m 59.6s

Cabot Cliffs^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129| CD

15/8

Not quite up to listed/Graded level in autumn but back to winning ways with sights lowered when seeing off 8 rivals over C&D 23 days ago. Likely no easy task conceding 6 lb to Heross du Seuil, though.

Form: 1341

Heross Du Seuil⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

4/7

Maiden bumper winner in France last summer and showed a good turn of foot in steadily-run race to land 2m Kempton juvenile hurdle over Christmas, challenging when left clear last. Sure to progress.

Form: 11

Admiral Balko^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Williams

25/1

Showed plenty when second in Bangor juvenile on debut in November and better than result (prominent long way) when 24 lengths fifth to Cabot Cliffs over C&D 12 weeks later. Remains open to progress.

Form: 25

Alberic^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 95

150/1

No promise in 3 similar events so a first-time tongue strap needs to spark major improvement.

Form: P66

Alborkan¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

25/1

Fair Flat winner who showed some promise when sixth on his Kempton hurdle debut but the reopposing Heross du Seuil was some 27 lengths ahead of him. Second on AW Flat 15 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 6

Pleasure Garden¹³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs L C Jewell| D

150/1

Fair 4-time winner at up to 2m on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott. Bought for 32,000 gns ahead of this hurdle debut.

Form:

The Worthy Brat⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott

12/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in a 3-y-o bumper at Exeter in October. Fair form in 2 runs over hurdles since but in all likelihood will need to up his game to trouble the favourite.

Form: 135

Forecasts

Heross Du Seuil (4/7), Cabot Cliffs (15/8), The Worthy Brat (12/1), Admiral Balko (25/1), Alborkan (25/1), Alberic (150/1), Pleasure Garden (150/1)

HEROSS DU SEUIL can set himself up for a possible tilt at the Triumph by making it 2-2 over hurdles for his new connections. Recent C&D scorer Cabot Cliffs can follow him home.