Betfair Beacons Winter Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 21.6s

Deafening Silence²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

6/1

Successful on last (only completed) of 3 starts in points (Dec 2021) and built on his hurdling debut promise upped markedly in trip after over a year off when landing a 6-runner novice at Exeter (21.6f, soft) 4 weeks ago. Open to further improvement.

Form: FB1/3-1

Insurrection^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

5/2

Winning Irish pointer who shaped better than the bare result on his only outing in bumpers and looked a good prospect following a breathing operation when making all on last month's hurdling debut at Exeter (16.7f). Bound to stay beyond 17f and open to significant improvement.

Form: F14-1

Josh The Boss^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Jamie Neild| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

15/2

Fair in bumpers but surpassed that form when routing the opposition on return/debut in this sphere at Warwick (21f, good). Defied a penalty in an unconventional race at Aintree since and has earned a crack at this level.

Form: 0414-11

Personal Ambition³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

11/2

Promising sort who had a undergone a breathing operation prior to winning a 12-runner novice hurdle at Warwick (19f, heavy) on NH debut 31 days ago. The runner-up has franked that form since and he rates a useful prospect.

Form: 3-1

Southoftheborder²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| C

11/8

Point winner who overcame inexperience to make a successful Rules debut in 7-runner bumper at Ffos Las (15.8f) in March. Looked potentially useful in following up on hurdling debut here (2m) 8 months later and looks sure to go on to better things. Bred to stay at least 2½m.

Form: 11-1

Forecasts

Southoftheborder (11/8), Insurrection (5/2), Personal Ambition (11/2), Deafening Silence (6/1), Josh The Boss (15/2)

A small but select field for this Grade 2. SOUTHOFTHEBORDER looked a useful prospect when landing the odds with something to spare here last month and, with the performance backed up by the timefigure, he's taken to maintain his unbeaten record upped to a trip he's bred to be suited by. Insurrection won a race with a notable roll of honour at Exeter and is clearly very promising, as is Personal Ambition, whose Warwick form was franked by the runner-up at Newbury last weekend.