Ascot Shop 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:21 | Winning time: 4m 54.72s

Ailes D'amour²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams

33/1

Better effort in bumpers when second of 9 at Hexham (16.2f, good to soft, 7/2), no match for winner. Off 7 months. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 42-

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Doctor Ken²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

4/7

Off the mark at the third attempt in 9-runner bumper at Market Rasen (16.6f, good) and ran to a similar level sent hurdling when third in a warm maiden at Aintree on return. Hard to beat.

Form: 241-3

Pull Again Green²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

2/1

Ex-pointer who made a winning Rules debut in Wexford bumper for Harley Dunne. Much better form when defying a penalty at Uttoxeter on return for new yard and needs taking seriously on hurdles debut.

Form: P6F1-1

Hidden Heroics²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

10/1

£60,000 4-y-o who won sole start in Irish points. Strong in the market for Rules bow in novice at Wetherby but could only run to a modest level. Probably capable of better.

Form: 1-4

Universal Secret¹⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes

200/1

Universal gelding who hinted at ability when ninth of 17 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (20.4f, good to soft) on debut in May. First run for yard after leaving E. Sheehy.

Form: 9

West Orchard⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

100/1

€25,000 3-y-o, Westerner gelding. Tailed off in Chepstow bumper, looking none too keen.

Form: 8

Non-Runners

Kincardine¹⁷⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Doctor Ken (4/7), Pull Again Green (2/1), Kincardine (11/4), Hidden Heroics (10/1), Ailes D'amour (33/1), West Orchard (100/1), Universal Secret (200/1)

Bumper-winner DOCTOR KEN pulled clear of the rest when third at Aintree on hurdles bow last month and can put that experience to good use taking on a couple of interesting hurdling debutants in Pull Again Green and KIncardine.