Virgin Bet Fives Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

4YO to 6YO | Class 3 | 2m | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| D

£70,000 recruit from the Irish pointing field who built on his Worcester debut third when landing short odds at Hexham (heavy) in November. Ought to be very competitive under the penalty.

Form: U3-131

Barlovento

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy

€72,000 Soldier of Fortune gelding. Of obvious interest on debut for a stable which does well in bumpers.

Form:

Jeune Prince

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

£65,000 Al Namix gelding. Half-brother to useful bumper winner/useful hurdler Festival d'Ex and fair hurdler Good Look Charm. One to note in the betting.

Form:

Jirko

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander

£31,000 Balko gelding. Half-brother to French 15f bumper winner Iako. One of 2 newcomers from the stable and the betting should help to separate them.

Form:

Lance Les Des

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

Half-brother to numerous winners on Flat, including useful German 6f-1m winner Manipura. Dam 7f/1m winner in Germany. Stamina might be an issue but stable does get the odd bumper winner.

Form:

Step Out²⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford

Well held on his Rules debut at the Punchestown Festival back in April but returns in a less competitive environment and worth a second look in the betting.

Form: 40-

Telemetry²⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby

Telescope gelding who ran to a fair level when 12 lengths second of 8 on his soft-ground Wetherby debut in April. Respected.

Form: 2-

Theonetowatch⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd

33/1, showed a bit when sixth of 15 on C&D debut (good) 65 days ago. May do better.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Wendigo (11/4), Barlovento (10/3), Telemetry (5/1), Step Out (7/1), Jeune Prince (15/2), Theonetowatch (8/1), Jirko (10/1), Lance Les Des (14/1)

Olly Murphy has a 4-9 record in bumpers here so it might be worth chancing his newcomer BARLOVENTO, with confidence in his chance increased should the betting vibes be strong. Hexham-winner Wendigo rates an obvious threat, while Telemetry is also respected after his promising Wetherby debut last spring.