Sebden Steel Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 3m 59.10s

Halibut²³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins

9/4

Thrice-raced winner under Rules. Won 13-runner novice hurdle (2/5) at Clonmel (16.5f, heavy) on hurdles bow 23 days ago, easily. Should progress and needs considering, for all that he has to concede weight all round.

Form: 3-31

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Solness²⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

8/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Hooded for 1st time, last of 7 in juvenile hurdle (69/10) at Auteuil Midi (17.9f, soft). Off 6 months ahead of this debut for new yard and he looks vulnerable.

Form: 124-7

Backintheroom²⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| D

20/1

10/3, won 15-runner novice hurdle at Gowran (16f, heavy) on NH debut in March, always holding on. This demands a sizeable step forward but he's completely unexposed.

Form: 1-

The Model Kingdom¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| BF| CD

7/4

Promising sort. 2 wins from 3 runs this season. 3/1, very good 4½ lengths third of 10 to Magical Zoe in a Grade 3 contest at Down Royal (16.9f, soft) 15 days ago. Big player.

Form: 111-13

Walnut Beach¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽³⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 121| CD

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler. C&D winner. 7/2, career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy) 13 days ago, pushed out. Should make his presence felt.

Form: 80-0261

Uncle Phil^h1,t⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

7/2

Lightly-raced winner under Rules. Reportedly suffered with a breathing problem when pulled up in minor event at Listowel (16f, good, 9/4) 59 days ago, losing place before 4 out. Hood on 1st time and he remains of interest.

Form: 2121P

Forecasts

The Model Kingdom (7/4), Halibut (9/4), Uncle Phil (7/2), Solness (8/1), Walnut Beach (12/1), Backintheroom (20/1)

The majority of these remain open to improvement, not least THE MODEL KINGDOM, who was 3-3 in bumpers last season and duly landed the odds on hurdles debut last month at Tipperary. She did little wrong when third in a Down Royal Grade 3 subsequently and sets a good standard on that form. Halibut, Uncle Phil and Backintheroom (in that order of preference) are all promising but Walnut Beach is feared most on the back of his pretty decisive success in a Cork handicap recently.