eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 5.30s

Blue Lord⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| C| D

15/8

Winning hurdler who was keeping on in second when falling last in Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f) 42 days ago. Obvious threat to stablemate Echoes In Rain.

Form: 123F

Colonel Mustard²³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: C J Orr| T: L Fowler| OR: 125| CD

40/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who has shown similar form in reaching the frame all 3 starts over hurdles, but is surely flying too high here.

Form: 21243

Dewcup^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 135| CD

28/1

Useful hurdler. C&D winner. Two wins from 5 runs last season. 9/4, respectable sixth of 16 in maiden at Gowran (9.6f, soft) 20 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Switches from Flat to hurdles.

Form: 3-11224

Uhtred⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| D

20/1

Dual bumper winner who was rather too lit up in a messy race after 14 months off when third of 5 to Thedevilscoachman in listed hurdle here (16.6f) in February. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 1/21-3

Echoes In Rain^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D

8/13

Has improved with each run and looked out of the top drawer in thrashing a promising field under her Grade 2 penalty at Fairyhouse (2m) 23 days ago. Exciting prospect and has more to come.

Form: 5-1411

Forecasts

Echoes In Rain (8/13), Blue Lord (15/8), Uhtred (20/1), Dewcup (28/1), Colonel Mustard (40/1)

ECHOES IN RAIN looked a Grade 1 winner in waiting when thrashing a promising field under her Grade 2 penalty at Fairyhouse earlier in the month, so she looks the way to go armed with a handy mares' allowance. Her stablemate Blue Lord boasts some strong form and looks the obvious threat if none the worse after his Cheltenham spill.