National Racehorse Week 10th-18th September Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:59 | Winning time: 3m 51.47s

Kanukankan²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Todd| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 104

5/4

A cheap purchase out of the Philip Hobbs yard, put his experience to good use to make a winning stable debut in novice hurdle at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to firm) 21 days ago. Needs to build on that effort.

Form: 6/59-421

Harlem Soul¹⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: S Hosie| OR: 122| BF

7/2

Made a successful stable debut for Colin Tizzard in novice hurdle at Wincanton in March and ran creditably under a penalty back at the same course on his next outing. The one to beat starting out for his new trainer.

Form: 5412-

Calculus¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: Sara Ender

33/1

Modest handicapper on Flat (stays 1½m) who was held back by inexperience on his hurdling bow in novice at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to firm) 10 days ago. Likely to need more time.

Form: 5

Turpin Gold¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R Stephens| OR: 103

9/4

Fair in bumpers and has progressed on each of his 3 starts over hurdles, runner-up in a Newton Abbot novice (16.8f, good) a fortnight ago. More needed again though to get his head in front.

Form: 5/339-32

Blitz Spirit¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Philip Armson⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn

9/1

Fair form on Flat in France, though shaped as if amiss after 12 months off on stable debut in June. Showed more than on hurdling debut when fourth here (18.7f, good) 12 days ago, but still looks to be up against it.

Form: 64

Forecasts

Kanukankan (5/4), Turpin Gold (9/4), Harlem Soul (7/2), Blitz Spirit (9/1), Calculus (33/1)

HARLEM SOUL left his previous form over hurdles well behind on his first start for Colin Tizzard, winning a novice at Wincanton in March which has proved to be very strong form. Having run well back there next time this looks a good opportunity for the 4-y-o to make a successful beginning for his new trainer, with Turpin Gold the one who can give the selection most to think about.