Get Hugh Taylor's Tips On attheraces.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 20.49s

Bigbadmattie⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

9/4

Fell after 3 years off on hurdles bow at Worcester for new yard but bounced back with victory there in 2m maiden 45 days ago, travelling strongly. Good chance he has more to offer.

Form: 3/F1

Guinness Affair^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

5/6

Followed up his Huntingdon bumper win in straightforward style switched to hurdles at Stratford in July, beating a subsequent improver with a bit in hand. More to come.

Form: 2-11

Prime Pretender^p1⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113

9/2

Winning pointer who has shown plenty in bumpers and over hurdles. Drops back in trip with cheekpieces fitted and shouldn't be far away on balance of his form.

Form: 25-3526

Stormbomber⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: M Goldstein| T: M Madgwick

22/1

Fair Flat winner (stays 1¼m), though below form lately and offered nothing on sole previous try over hurdles.

Form: P-

Spanish Persuader^t⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: James Davies| T: D Steele

100/1

Poor maiden on Flat. Hard to fancy even though he's a half-brother to a winning French hurdler.

Form:

City Escape³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs S J Humphrey

33/1

Fair maiden on Flat (stays 1¼m), not seen to best effect after 6 months off last time. Hard to see her troubling the previous winners on hurdles debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Guinness Affair (5/6), Bigbadmattie (9/4), Prime Pretender (9/2), Stormbomber (22/1), City Escape (33/1), Spanish Persuader (100/1)

The two penalised winners GUINNESS AFFAIR and Bigbadmattie could fight this out. Jamie Snowden's 5-y-o likely has more to offer having beaten a subsequent improver first time up in this sphere at Stratford and he gets the vote.