bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 40.00s

Goshen⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 154| C

7/2

Very smart hurdler on his day, landing 19f Grade 2 at Ascot in November. Just as good when runner-up to Paisley Park in 3m Kempton Grade 1 on Boxing Day but arrives after a couple of poor efforts (over fences on first occasion). Better showing anticipated back right-handed but he's quirky.

Form: 1-31235

Knappers Hill⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| BF| C

11/2

Enhanced good strike-rate when taking the Grade 2 Elite from Sceau Royal at Wincanton in November. Failed to fire on next couple of starts and was unable to justify favouritism when third in National Spirit at Fontwell a couple of months ago. Still, he can feature.

Form: 1-11423

Call Me Lord⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| CD

12/1

Won this contest in 2018 and looked most likely winner before a late mishap in 2021 renewal. Plies his trade in handicaps nowadays and having made successful return at Kempton in November, he needs to put a lacklustre effort in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham well behind.

Form: 3-12520

Thyme Hill^p⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 156| D

9/4

Dual Grade 1 winning hurdler who made successful chase debut at Exeter (3m) in November. Fitted with cheekpieces to land Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton over Christmas but jumping issues resurfaced in Brown Advisory at Cheltenham last month. Serious claims back hurdling.

Form: 25-1218

Theatre Glory⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

2/1

Improving mare who picked up her fifth win over hurdles when readily landing Warwick listed event in February. Ran creditably when sixth to Honeysuckle in David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham and the youngster of the sextet should find this easier.

Form: 11-U316

Non-Runners

Texard⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Theatre Glory (2/1), Thyme Hill (9/4), Goshen (7/2), Knappers Hill (11/2), Call Me Lord (12/1), Texard (100/1)

Having been unable to lay a glove on Honeysuckle at the Cheltenham Festival, THEATRE GLORY should find this assignment much easier, so Nicky Henderson's 6-y-o gets the verdict to notch a first pattern success. Thyme Hill couldn't get into any sort of rhythm in the Brown Advisory last month, so he's put forward as the main danger back hurdling, with Knappers Hill completing the shortlist.