Virgin Bet Free Bets For Winners Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 25.4s

Blackjack Magic^h³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 130

13/2

Improved model over hurdles this term, making it 2 wins from 4 starts when landing a Chepstow novice (23.6f, soft) early on last month. Has more on his plate conceding weight all round here, though.

Form: F3-1F31

Flemenstide^p1⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123| BF| C

9/4

Course bumper winner who made successful hurdles debut in an Ascot novice (21.6f) in November. Matched that when second at Wincanton (21.3f) in January and likely more to come now upped in trip

Form: 219-12

Trelawne²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| C

10/11

Geordieland gelding who proved easy to back but handled testing conditions notably well when forging clear to land an 18.5f novice here last month. Longer trip will pose no fears on that evidence.

Form: 1

Just A Dime⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke

15/2

Doyen gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stays 3¼m) Canelo. Raced 5 times in Irish points, winning last twice (latest Jan 15). Market should guide now hurdling.

Form: 2/PP-11

Non-Runners

Earth Lord²⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: P Hobbs & J White J: T J O'Brien

Forecasts

Trelawne (10/11), Flemenstide (9/4), Earth Lord (3/1), Blackjack Magic (13/2), Just A Dime (15/2)

Competitive fare despite the small field with the narrow vote in favour of EARTH LORD. A dual winner already this term, he ran well when seventh in the Lanzarote prior to finishing runner-up back in novice company latest and the step up in trip may unlock a little more improvement. Flemenstide and easy recent course scorer Trelawne head up the dangers.