Thank You To Our Annual Badgeholders Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 4m 29.99s

Apologise⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

7/4

Fair Flat winner. Won 11-runner handicap at Killarney (11.4f, soft, 4/1) 52 days ago, suited by increase in trip. First run for yard after leaving A. Slattery. Big player on hurdling bow.

Form:

Casi Crudo²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales

11/4

Half-brother to fair 2m hurdle winner Rafiki and, having shown modest form on the Flat, showed a bit to work on when third in a juvenile hurdle at Ludlow for new yard 28 days ago. Should be on the premises.

Form: 3

Elmaftun²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: N J Hawke

100/1

Well held in maidens/minor event on Flat for Kevin Prendergast and, having been off 4 months (also gelded), fared no better in a juvenile at Ludlow on hurdling debut 28 days ago.

Form: 7

Lightening Gesture⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland

8/1

Fair handicapper at best on the Flat but no impact on sole hurdling outing to date. Has left Jack Jones since finishing down the field on the level at Wolverhampton in September.

Form: 5

Morandi Second¹⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: P Neville

11/4

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser in France Autorisation (17f-23f winner, by Authorized). Fair maiden on the Flat in France and looks an interesting recruit to this sphere.

Form:

Beautiful Surprise⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke

11/1

Fair handicapper on the Flat but not at her best last time and has been sold cheaply from Hugo Palmer. Worth a market check nonetheless.

Form:

French Romance²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: Olly Williams

28/1

Fair form on Flat, down the field in handicap on stable debut and no great encouragement when fourth in a juvenile at Southwell on first try over hurdles.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Apologise (7/4), Casi Crudo (11/4), Morandi Second (11/4), Lightening Gesture (8/1), Beautiful Surprise (11/1), French Romance (28/1), Elmaftun (100/1)

APOLOGISE improved to open his account on the Flat at Killarney 52 days ago and his new stable will likely have him tuned up for his hurdling debut, so he's marginally preferred to Casi Crudo, who offered encouragement when third at Ludlow on his first go at hurdling. Morandi Second is another to note.