Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 6.27s

Collectors Item³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

9/1

Flemensfirth gelding who showed plenty of promise when runner-up to re-opposing Weveallbeencaught in a Newbury bumper back in March. Well backed when off the mark on return/hurdles bow at Chepstow (2m) last month and plenty more to come upped in trip.

Form: 22-1

Getaway Drumlee³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

33/1

Irish point winner who overcame greenness to make winning hurdles debut in a Hereford novice (19.6f) 31 days ago. Open to improvement but this does require a sizeable step forward if he's to figure.

Form: 21-1

Hermes Allen^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

9/4

£350,000 4-y-o, Poliglote gelding. Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points (Nov 2021) and confirmed himself an exciting prospect when taking a Stratford maiden hurdle (22f) with bundles to spare 4 weeks ago. Highly likely there's plenty more to come.

Form: 31-1

Hubrisko^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

6/4

French bumper winner who confirmed previous hurdles promise when justifying short odds in a Galway maiden (16.6f) in September. Matched that form when third behind stable mate Champ Kiely in Tipperary Gr. 3 since. Sound claims up in trip.

Form: 1/3-213

Music Drive^p1,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| BF

17/2

Pretty useful bumper winner who landed the odds without too much fuss on hurdles debut at Galway (19f) early last month. Built on that when a rallying third over 2½m here since and this slightly stiffer test should suit. Cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 2185-13

Quid Pro Quo^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

11/1

Successful on first of 2 starts in bumpers during 2020/21 season and, having missed 15 months, made a sound start over hurdles earlier this year, landing maiden/novice events at upto 21.5f. Only fourth in Gr. 2 on return at Chepstow 5 weeks ago but it remains early days.

Form: 16/114

Weveallbeencaught²⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

7/1

£210,000 purchase on back of success in points last December and confirmed himself an exciting prospect when defeating Collectors Item on bumper debut at Newbury in March. Goes hurdling now in a warm race but interesting that connections pitch him in here.

Form: 11-

Forecasts

Hubrisko (6/4), Hermes Allen (9/4), Weveallbeencaught (7/1), Music Drive (17/2), Collectors Item (9/1), Quid Pro Quo (11/1), Getaway Drumlee (33/1)

This has an open-looking feel but HUBRISKO arrives having matched his previous best when third in a Tipperary Grade 3 early last month and, with the prospect of more to come stepping back up in trip, he looks to hold sound claims. Collectors Item looks sure to be suited by this sort of test judged on his hurdles debut success at Chepstow and is feared, along with Music Drive and Hermes Allen.