Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 1 | 1m 7f 144y | 7 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 133| D

£170,000 buy after a point win and made it 3-3 under Rules in good style when landing the odds in a Market Rasen (16.6f, good to soft) novice on Boxing Day. This represents a significant step up in class but he's clearly a bright prospect and has to be taken very seriously.

Form: 11-11

Doyen Star⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| D

Won sole start in Irish points and, having subsequently changed hands for £120,000, he accounted for 14 rivals on Rules debut in a Chepstow novice (2m, good to soft) in November. That form has taken plenty of knocks since but there's no doubt that he's a promising type.

Form: 1-1

Matata^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| BF| D

Point winner and made a successful start under Rules in ready fashion at Fakenham in October. Runner-up both subsequent starts, latterly beaten ¾-length by War Soldier over this C&D (soft), but arguably lacks the star potential of some of these.

Form: 1-122

Pembroke³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

Bumper winner on Rules debut last spring and has improved markedly with each of his 3 starts in this sphere, most recently running away with a Ludlow novice (15.8f, soft) in December. Looks ready for this step into graded company and he's a big player.

Form: 2F1-711

Toothless²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| D

Fair form at best in French juvenile hurdles but looked an altogether different proposition when routing the opposition on debut for Paul Nicholls in a 2m Fakenham maiden hurdle (soft). Much more on his plate here but he shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 6F5-1

War Soldier²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 124| CD

Built on hurdles debut promise when landing a Newcastle maiden in November. Further progress when getting the better of Matata and 9 others over this C&D last month and while a good deal more will be needed at this level, he should make his presence felt.

Form: 317-411

Poetic Music⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

Pretty useful in bumpers last season and perfect start over hurdles when landing a mares' maiden at Ludlow in November. By no means disgraced when third to the exciting Luccia in listed company at Newbury (16.3f, good) since but she looks vulnerable pitched against the boys here.

Form: 1116-13

Forecasts

Pembroke (13/8), Chasing Fire (11/4), Toothless (9/2), War Soldier (10/1), Poetic Music (12/1), Doyen Star (12/1), Matata (14/1)

While all seven of these are clearly very talented, CHASING FIRE, Pembroke and Toothless nevertheless stand out on account of their star potential. Marginal preference is for the first-named, who has won his 2 starts over hurdles at Market Rasen in the style of a potentially top-notch novice and can be expected to take this step up in class in his stride. Pembroke is just about second choice ahead of Toothless.