Prestige Safety Fire Risk Assessments Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 3m 50.46s

Absolute Ruler^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 107| BF| D

5/2

Fair Flat winner. Off the mark over hurdles in 2m Huntingdon maiden hurdle in May. Creditable second in a Ffos Las novice since but it suggests he might be vulnerable under his penalty to something above average.

Form: 212

Il Cima⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan

100/1

14/1, remote fifth of 7 in Market Rasen bumper 45 days ago.

Form: 5

The Galahad Kid³⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| D

5/6

Easily won both completed starts in Irish points and 2-2 in bumpers last summer. It's taken a while to get him back to the track for this hurdle debut but he's probably still the one to beat, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.

Form: PP1/111-

Young Merlin⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

13/2

Fair Flat winner in France. Betting should help guide to expectations now hurdling for a new stable.

Form:

Ar El Bee²³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Sherwood

20/1

Fair best on Flat for David Menuisier but lost his way towards the end of 2022. Remains to be seen if a switch to hurdling helps to spark an upturn in his fortunes.

Form:

Definite^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: M F Harris

7/1

Fairly useful performer at best on Flat (stays 1¼m) and has shown a bit over hurdles, keeping on for third in maiden at Plumpton last month. Might be worth forgiving running out at the second at Huntingdon last time as he seemed to be put off by another rival wandering just before the flight.

Form: 6-3R

Non-Runners

My Boy Grizzle⁸⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: C Ellam J: C J Todd

Forecasts

The Galahad Kid (5/6), Absolute Ruler (5/2), Young Merlin (13/2), Definite (7/1), Ar El Bee (20/1), Il Cima (100/1), My Boy Grizzle (150/1)

THE GALAHAD KID looked useful when winning 2 bumpers last summer and is taken to make a successful start to his hurdle career, with confidence in his chance increased should the betting vibes be strong. Absolute Ruler is second choice ahead of Definite.