tote.co.uk Hair Of The Dog Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 4m 1.03s

Rory The Cat^b,t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| CD

11/1

Won pair of handicaps on the level this summer. Remote sixth to Union Flag on his C&D hurdle debut in November but different proposition when winning a 5-runner event back here 3 weeks later. The form is nothing special, though, so he'll require another chunk of improvement to follow up.

Form: 61

Teorie^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| D

4/9

Fairly useful winner on the Flat in Ireland for Jim Bolger. Didn't look a natural in the jumping department but still ran out a ready winner on his recent Catterick hurdle debut (2m, good to soft). The cheekpieces he wore on the Flat go on now. Leading claims.

Form: 1

Union Flag^t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115| BF| CD

6/1

Fair maiden on the Flat who built on his hurdling debut promise for Noel Meade when ready winner of 9-runner C&D juvenile in November. Perhaps found the run coming too soon when only a remote fourth at Catterick 16 days later. Can bounce back.

Form: 314

Churchwarden⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

11/2

Showed fair form on second of 2 starts in maidens on Flat for Eddie & Patrick Harty. New trainer John McConnell has won this 3 times since 2019, including with a hurdle newcomer. Market confidence could prove significant.

Form:

La Quarite²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: I Jardine

66/1

Hasn't shown enough in his 2 starts to suggest he's likely to play a leading role here.

Form: F5

Apples Destiny⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: R M Smith

200/1

Tailed off in an Aintree bumper in November. Can only be watched.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Teorie (4/9), Churchwarden (11/2), Union Flag (6/1), Rory The Cat (11/1), La Quarite (66/1), Apples Destiny (200/1)

TEORIE overcame a few indifferent leaps to make a winning start over hurdles at Catterick 13 days ago and is taken to follow up. Union Flag will give him something to think about if back to the form he showed when winning over C&D, while a market move for Churchwarden would be very interesting given John McConnell's excellent recent record in this race.