bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 57.30s

Thomas Darby^t²⁰³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 154| DWS

11/1

Back to best when landing Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m) in November having finished fourth in this on last season's reappearance. Isn't one for maximum faith and unable to build on that in a trio of outings to end the campaign. Has had a wind op.

Form: 3/414P4-

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Sporting John²⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 154| D

7/4

Grade 1 novice chase winner who didn't kick on in that sphere but back on track over hurdles last season, making it 2-3 in a Warwick handicap (25f) in January. Season curtailed after that but expected to be well forward for this and he's just about the one to beat on these terms.

Form: 1FP/141-

Oscar Elite^t²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 139| DWS

10/1

Useful winning hurdler in 2020/21 and took his form up a level when excellent third of 24 in Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham (25f). May not have been over that race at Aintree and now reverts to timber for this reappearance on the back of wind surgery.

Form: F3453P-

Proschema²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| C

9/2

Smart hurdler who ran well under top weight when third in a competitive 3m Haydock handicap hurdle in May. Shaped as if still in good heart in the Silver Trophy on reappearance and that should have put him spot on for this (runner-up to Indefatigable in this a year ago).

Form: 152F-37

Threeunderthrufive²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| D

11/4

Four-time hurdle winner in 2020/21 who matched that feat in this sphere when readily making all in 3m Warwick Grade 2 in January. Has to prove he can match that level over timber but he's a danger to all on reappearance if he does.

Form: 211116-

Indefatigable¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Rex Dingle| T: P R Webber| OR: 145| CD

9/1

Runner-up in in this race back in 2019 and fit from the Flat when going one place better in last year's renewal. Adopting a similar path this time having has a spin on the level 12 days ago and she seems sure to be involved.

Form: 1623F2-

Forecasts

Sporting John (7/4), Threeunderthrufive (11/4), Proschema (9/2), Indefatigable (9/1), Oscar Elite (10/1), Thomas Darby (11/1)

There's an air of unfinished business about SPORTING JOHN as a staying hurdler and he may well outclass these on reappearance with his record fresh another positive. Indefatigable and Proschema finished first and second in this a year ago, and with both having the benefit of a recent spin, they are the obvious dangers.