Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 4m 11.10s

Chasing Fire⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 133| D

4/6

£170,000 buy after a point win and made it 3-3 under Rules when landing the odds in a Market Rasen (16.6f, good to soft) novice impressively on Boxing Day. Bright prospect who clearly has more improvement in him.

Form: 11-11

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Getaway Drumlee⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

6/1

Irish point winner who overcame greenness to make winning hurdles debut in a Hereford novice (19.6f) in October. That wasn't much of a race though and he was well held upped in grade at Cheltenham the following month.

Form: 21-16

Iliko D'olivate^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124

5/2

Fair form in 2 starts on the Flat and built on his hurdles debut second at Compiegne when going one better in ready fashion at Taunton (19f) 26 days ago, travelling strongly and drawing clear run-in. Will go on improving.

Form: 2-1

Blue Ridge Hill⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| BF

33/1

Maiden pointer but has displayed plenty of ability in bumpers, runner-up all 3 starts, and should have a future over hurdles.

Form: 5C4-222

Dr Hegarty⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

200/1

Well held in a pair of maiden hurdles.

Form: 07

Odin's Quest^h⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| D

25/1

Related to several winners and made successful start himself in 5-runner newcomers bumper at Huntingdon in January, readily. Shade keen even with a hood in better company since and now goes hurdling in a warm-looking novice.

Form: 1-45

Non-Runners

Stenatee³³⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Chasing Fire (4/6), Iliko D'olivate (5/2), Getaway Drumlee (6/1), Stenatee (10/1), Odin's Quest (25/1), Blue Ridge Hill (33/1), Dr Hegarty (200/1)

A likely match between CHASING FIRE and Iliko d'Olivate, who both look very promising. Preference however is for the former, who maintained his unbeaten record in impressive fashion at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, whilst again giving the strong impression there's much better still to come.