Betway Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 5m 34.30s

Astronomic View¹⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| C

12/1

Fairly-useful bumper winner who offered plenty to work on when third of 6 on 2m Ffos Las hurdle debut last November. Strong in the betting but failed to progress when mid-field at Newton Abbot 6 months later and has a similar length of absence to overcome here.

Form: 3138/3-5

Beachcomber¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| BF

14/1

Looked useful when winning easily at Chepstow on his second of 3 bumper starts last season. Off 7 months, shaped as if better for the run when 10 lengths fifth on his 2½m Worcester hurdle debut in September and can have his latest effort at Kempton excused (rider lost irons early).

Form: 410-5P

Deafening Silence³⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

4/1

Successful on last (only completed) of 3 starts in points (Dec 2021) and produced a promising first effort over hurdles when a close third of 13 in novice at Chepstow (16f, good to soft) 12 months ago, noted doing his best work late on. In top hands and sure to improve now upped in trip.

Form: FB1/3-

Law Of Supply²¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

6/1

Successful on last of 3 starts in Irish points (Oct 2022) and was very green but was definitely getting the idea late on when fourth in a Chepstow bumper (16f, good to soft) 7 months ago, rallying well approaching final 1f. Respected on hurdles bow for his in-form yard.

Form: 44/14-

Mad Mike²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

50/1

Looked badly in need of the experience when fifth of 6 in bumper at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) on debut 6 months ago. Yard been amongst the winners of late so he would be folly to discount on hurdling debut.

Form: 5-

Wrappedupinmay²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BF| C

8/13

Wide-margin winner of sole point and came home in splendid isolation in bumper here (heavy) on Rules debut. Turned over at short odds at Sandown next time but shaped well sent hurdling after 8 months off when runner-up at Ffos Las (21.9f, good to soft) last month. Major player.

Form: 1/13-2

Forecasts

Wrappedupinmay (8/13), Deafening Silence (4/1), Law Of Supply (6/1), Astronomic View (12/1), Beachcomber (14/1), Mad Mike (50/1)

Cases can be made for most of these, but preference is for WRAPPEDUPINMAY, who shaped well sent hurdling after 8 months off when runner-up at Ffos Las recently (front pair clear) and can go a place better now. Deafening Silence was beaten less than a length when third on hurdling bow 12 months ago so he may emerge as the main danger, with Law of Supply taken to fill third place.