Barrie Wells Trust Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:37 | Winning time: 5m 15.1s

Fitzroy^p1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 120| CD

11/4

Did the job well when making every post a winning one back from a break in a C&D maiden hurdle in May. Hasn't shone over fences since, but bold show anticipated back in this sphere. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 721-24U

Fontana Ellissi¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123| D

1/2

Showed improved form to get off the mark in 6-runner novice at Ludlow (21f) in March. Below par next 2 starts, but back on track when runner-up at Bangor (16.7f) recently and obvious claims here.

Form: 321-742

Keeper Chris^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Thompson

8/1

Maiden pointer who stepped up on his inauspicious hurdles debut display when third in first-time cheekpieces at Cartmel (2¾m) last month. More minor place money is probably the best he can hope for.

Form: 4P/F-363

Outsmartin⁸¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: D Faulkner

66/1

Clearly hasn't been the easiest to train, given that he's a 9-y-o with just 4 appearances under his belt. Absence of over 2 years to overcome and best watched.

Form: 34P4/

Non-Runners

Tuff McCool²²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: J Bedi J: Aaron Anderson

Forecasts

Fontana Ellissi (1/2), Fitzroy (11/4), Keeper Chris (8/1), Tuff McCool (25/1), Outsmartin (66/1)

This will almost certainly boil down to a shootout between FITZROY and Fontana Ellissi. The latter took a step back in the right direction at Bangor and moving back up in trip here will be no bad thing. However, preference is for Fitzroy, who hasn't covered himself in glory over fences of late but he was a decisive C&D winner on his latest start in this sphere. Keeper Chris is best of the rest.