Kerry Lewis Freelance Florist Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 0.9s

Pop The Champagne^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 111| D

5/6

Bumper winner on debut and left previous hurdling efforts behind when readily landing a novice at Ffos Las in June. Defied a penalty in impressive style at Worcester last time. Highly respected.

Form: 4/269-11

Rafiki³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| CD

2/1

Fairly useful on Flat and made a winning start over hurdles in C&D novice a month ago, rallying having not been fluent at the last. Open to improvement and can give another good account.

Form: 1

Reams Of Love¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 106| CD

4/1

Fair performer on Flat. After low-key start over hurdles has improved during the current campaign faced with less testing conditions, getting off the mark in C&D maiden last time. Needs more again.

Form: 77-51

Non-Runners

Sophosc¹⁰

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Forecasts

Pop The Champagne (5/6), Rafiki (2/1), Sophosc (7/2), Reams Of Love (4/1)

Preference is for SOPHOSC, who was value for more than the winning margin at Plumpton on his hurdling debut having been badly hampered 2 out. He has since gone on to score on the Flat so can continue his good run of form and make it 2 from 2 over hurdles. It's hard to dismiss any of the quartet though, with the hat-trick seeking Pop The Champagne feared most ahead of Rafiki.