Come Racing At Carlisle In 2024 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 22.24s

Blazing Soldier⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

7/1

Soldier of Fortune gelding who was no better than a distant third on the first of 2 completed starts in Irish points but made a winning start over hurdles at Newcastle (16.9f, heavy) just over 6 weeks ago. Carries a penalty and open to improvement stepping up in trip.

Form: U3-71

Clovis Island¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| BF

7/2

Runner-up on sole outing in Irish points and went one better in 5-runner bumper at Hexham on his Rules debut last March, making all. Ran to only a modest level when fourth to Great Pepper on hurdling debut there (20.1f, heavy) in November so will need to take a leap forward.

Form: 21-4

Home Sweet Highway³⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109WS

20/1

Rules debut effort in a maiden hurdle at Ayr in November 2022 certainly wasn't devoid of promise but he hasn't made much of an impact in 4 subsequent starts. Kept to novice company and improvement required following 11 months off (had a wind operation).

Form: P2/F445-

Jagwar^t⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 119| BF

8/15

Runner-up on first 2 starts (trained in France on debut), going down by only a head in 2½m Aintree novice for new connections at the end of October. Better than result when fifth of 6 on 2m Haydock handicap debut just before Christmas, bad mistake last (also lost shoe). Form choice back up in trip.

Form: 2-25

Jeu Sacre^h1⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 103

28/1

Fair form over hurdles and fences for J. Delaunay in France, changing hands for €32,000 in November. Easy to back and never threatened over hurdles at Wetherby (19.7f) on Boxing Day but he remains low-mileage and refitting of a hood may help.

Form: P7-3458

Forecasts

Jagwar (8/15), Clovis Island (7/2), Blazing Soldier (7/1), Home Sweet Highway (20/1), Jeu Sacre (28/1)

JAGWAR shaped much better than the bare result when fifth on handicap debut at Haydock a couple of months ago (bad mistake last and lost a shoe) so, back in novice company, he's strongly fancied to go one better than on both previous outings. Blazing Soldier caused a 16/1 surprise when scoring on hurdling debut at Newcastle and, now stepping up in trip, he looks the main danger, with Home Sweet Highway seemingly best of the rest.