Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 4m 21.33s

Call Of The Wild¹⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: A King| OR: 122

13/8

Impressive when winning sole start in bumpers and confirmed hurdles debut promise when landing 3-runner Kempton novice (2m) back in November. Obvious claims under a penalty with more to come.

Form: 121

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Boombawn⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 121WS

4/5

Shaped well in a Worcester bumper for Tom Weston in May and likewise on both outings over hurdles, finishing third twice in good races at Newbury in November. Big shout returning from a break/wind op.

Form: 233

Creggan White Hare^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

10/1

Bumper winner who stepped up on hurdles debut form when third in a C&D novice, one paced late on having made the running. Handicaps, including over further, may be more his bag.

Form: 8710-63

Harry Du Berlais³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent

18/1

Irish point winner who shaped okay on hurdles bow at Market Rasen (20.6f) in December. Fair form when third at Catterick (19.3f) after wind op since but another likely handicapping type.

Form: 1P3

Non-Runners

Burrows Hall⁸⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: J Parkinson & S Smith J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Boombawn (4/5), Call Of The Wild (13/8), Creggan White Hare (10/1), Burrows Hall (12/1), Harry Du Berlais (18/1)

This may well develop into a match between BOOMBAWN and Call of The Wild. The former shaped well in a couple of warm Newbury novice events last year and, on the back of a wind op, could be the way to go in receipt of 7 lb.