Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 57.12s

Armchair Farmer^t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 106

4/7

Resumed his progress back from 3 months off when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, good to soft) last week, clear from halfway and eased about 4 lengths late on. Big chance if reproducing that form under a penalty.

Form: 6-32121

Miss Milano¹¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 108

13/2

Showed improved form to win handicaps at Wetherby and Kelso in the autumn, both under today's rider, but needs to pull out more from a 4 lb higher mark now stepping back up to 3m after a break.

Form: F32-611

Twoconduit³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: J P Ryan| OR: 103| D

5/1

Winning pointer who showed a bit when eight of 14 on Navan hurdling debut in January. Well held both outings since but he's the type to do better now handicapping up in trip.

Form: 1809

Grand Du Nord⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

9/2

Bumper winner in April 2021 who ran well on the back of a breathing op when second in a Hexham novice (20.1f) in May. No better than mid-division all 4 starts since, though did scope dirty after most recent outing and has fallen a bit further in the weights.

Form: 5-23F85

Non-Runners

Horacio Apple's³⁵

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Armchair Farmer (4/7), Horacio Apple's (5/2), Grand Du Nord (9/2), Twoconduit (5/1), Miss Milano (13/2)

ARMCHAIR FARMER ran his rivals ragged at Exeter last week and will be hard to beat under a penalty if turning up in similar form. Horacio Apple's is also going the right way though, and must be respected in his hat-trick bid, while Irish-raider Twoconduit needs a market check on handicap debut with Brian Hughes in the saddle.