Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 3.5s

Brave Kingdom^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: P F Nicholls

6/5

Ready winner of a Fontwell bumper for Harry Whittington last winter and looked a bright prospect when an impressive winner on Chepstow hurdle debut for new stable after wind op. The one to beat.

Form: 3/1-1

Fair Frontieres⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

5/2

Went close in a Navan maiden hurdle in January and easily made all in a 23f Worcester maiden on his return for new yard 9 months later. Looks useful.

Form: P/2-1

Harper's Brook³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| D

8/1

£70,000 point winner. Third in a bumper in March and created a good impression when winning on his 2½m Carlisle hurdle debut in October, form which has been boosted by the second scoring since.

Form: 13-1

Lossiemouth^b¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 136

7/1

Dual bumper winner who drew a blank over hurdles in 2019 but has returned with improved efforts to win handicaps at Ascot and Ffos Las. Should be capable of making presence felt at this higher level.

Form: 522/0-11

Viva Lavilla¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

15/2

Won his sole start in Irish points last November and followed up on Lingfield hurdle debut 12 months later. Will need to leave that bare form behind now but there could be plenty more to come.

Form: 1-1

Forecasts

Brave Kingdom (6/5), Fair Frontieres (5/2), Lossiemouth (7/1), Viva Lavilla (15/2), Harper's Brook (8/1)

BRAVE KINGDOM was impressive on his Chepstow hurdle debut and is fancied to provide Paul Nicholls with a second win in this since 2019. Fair Frontieres is another who arrives on the back of a comfortable success this autumn and is feared most ahead of Lossiemouth.