MansionBet MerryCheltmas Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 5m 41.7s

Solwara One³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 134| BF

1/7

Struck at the second time of asking in bumpers and looked a good prospect when following up with plenty in hand on Doncaster hurdle debut. Just failed under a penalty at Exeter. Hard to beat.

Form: 2-112

Classic Ruler¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey

200/1

Point winner but pulled up on his last 2 runs in that sphere and didn't show much sent hurdling on his second Rules start at Warwick 19 days ago.

Form: 14PP-4

Druim Samhraidh²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: J Farrelly

40/1

Fair form in bumpers in 2019 but never involved on hurdles/stable debut at Taunton in January. Stumbled and unseated first when well backed last time.

Form: 43D-0U

Etoile Du Matin^t1⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: K Frost

66/1

Dual point winner but little impact in a pair of maiden hurdles under Rules. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 4/411-6P

Macfin²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

15/2

Fair form when third at Bangor only start in bumpers and similar form over hurdles, including when a staying on fourth at Southwell (15.8f) last month. Likely has more to offer back up in trip.

Form: 354

Distant Universe⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Graham Carson⁽⁷⁾| T: A Carson

400/1

Little impact in a trio of bumpers so makes little appeal on this switch to hurdling.

Form: 8-70

Tashunka¹⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien

10/1

Showed fair form in 2 bumpers in 2017/18, but below that level both starts following season. Offered something to work on sent hurdling after 25 months off and should come on from that here.

Form: 72680/3

Forecasts

Solwara One (1/7), Macfin (15/2), Tashunka (10/1), Druim Samhraidh (40/1), Etoile Du Matin (66/1), Classic Ruler (200/1), Distant Universe (400/1)

SOLWARA ONE put up another borderline useful effort in just failing to defy a penalty at Exeter and, with that form already proving solid, he is very difficult to oppose. Macfin likely has more to offer back up in trip and looks the one to follow the selection home.