Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 2.94s

Blazing Khal²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D J McInerney| T: C Byrnes| C

1/1

Took a while to win a bumper, but has made a perfect start over hurdles, improving considerably on his debut form to land 21f Grade 2 here last month. Carries a 5 lb penalty but open to more progress.

Form: 2/541-11

Ballygrifincottage²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

22/1

Won all 3 completed starts in points and has subsequently joined a top yard, so requires a market check despite making Rules debut in a warm race.

Form: U1-11

Barony Legends⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

6/1

Shaped with some encouragement in a bumper and, after 6 months off, made a winning start over hurdles in a 19.5f maiden at Lingfield 41 days ago. This is much harder but he's totally unexposed.

Form: 2-31

Gelino Bello²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

2/1

Bumper winner who created a really good impression in making a successful start over hurdles in a 2½m Aintree maiden. Built on that when second to Blazing Khal in Grade 2 here and can go on improving.

Form: 13-12

Loughderg Rocco¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: L Morgan| D

40/1

Irish point winner at second attempt who seemed to run to a fairly useful level when runner-up on his Newcastle hurdling debut 2 weeks ago, but whether he can build on that remains to be seen.

Form: 21-2

Current Mood²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 131| D

16/1

Dual 3m point scorer who won her first 2 starts over hurdles in good style prior to finishing a respectable third of 6 to Blazing Khal in Grade 2 here last time. More needed for win purposes.

Form: 112-113

Forecasts

Blazing Khal (1/1), Gelino Bello (2/1), Barony Legends (6/1), Current Mood (16/1), Ballygrifincottage (22/1), Loughderg Rocco (40/1)

BLAZING KHAL shoulders a 5 lb penalty for his Grade 2 success here last month, but he was well on top at the finish that day and is taken to uphold the form with Gelino Bello. The rest largely have a lot to find at this level, though Barony Legends won as his rider liked at LIngfield and is totally unexposed.