Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 3m 51.40s

Monmiral²³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153| D

11/5

Unbeaten (in 5 starts) 4yo who powered away in taking fashion to land the Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree 7 months ago. Form has been boosted since and there's more to come, so big claims.

Form: 1/1111-

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Not So Sleepy³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: H Morrison| OR: 152| D

18/1

Front-runner who has won back-to-back renewals of the Betfair Exchange Trophy (Handicap) at Ascot. Signed off last season still in form, but will need to up his game if he's to compete at this level.

Form: 0P/R157-

Sceau Royal²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 158| D

9/2

Very smart hurdler/chaser who has hit the ground running over the smaller obstacles this term, having a bit to spare in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last time. Has a fitness edge on his main rivals.

Form: F153-11

Silver Streak⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 158| BF| D

9/1

Smart hurdler who made all in Christmas Hurdle last season and, despite a couple of poor efforts at the top festivals since, he was back on track when second to Sceau Royal at Kempton on return.

Form: C2166-2

Voix Du Reve^v1³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 140| D

200/1

Smart chaser at his best but his last couple of runs have been sub-par and he looks well out of his depth back over hurdles.

Form: 22030-7

Epatante²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 154| CD

11/8

Three-time Grade 1 winner, including this event (last year) and the Champion Hurdle. Good third to Honeysuckle at Punchestown on final outing last season, and she'll be primed for a big run on return.

Form: 11/1233-

Forecasts

Epatante (11/8), Monmiral (11/5), Sceau Royal (9/2), Silver Streak (9/1), Not So Sleepy (18/1), Voix Du Reve (200/1)

MONMIRAL has yet to taste defeat and, given the authority in which he scored at Aintree on his final outing of last season, there could be more ability to unlock, so it's worth taking a chance on him to improve past the more experienced Epatante and Sceau Royal, who will force the selection to pull out all the stops.