Download The BetVictor App 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 5m 40.2s

Ballybentragh³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore

5/4

Irish point winner who made a successful start over hurdles in 8-runner novice (6/1) at Sandown (2m, heavy) 5 weeks ago, overcoming a bad error 2 out. This longer trip looks sure to play to his strengths.

Form: 12-221

Toss Of A Coin⁷⁹

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

10/11

€150,000 recruit from the pointing field who landed the odds on his 21.5f Exeter hurdle debut (heavy) in December. Can be expected to improve and leading claims for top yard with good recent record in this.

Form: FF31-1

Amarillobymorning^t1⁶⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

9/1

£58,000 buy after finishing second in his sole point in April 2022. It's taken a bit of time to get him to the track but his in-form stable won this race last year. Tongue tied. Market support could prove significant.

Form: 2/

Just Chasing May³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

33/1

Mid-division in a bumper and novice hurdle 12 months apart. Amarillobymorning has to be considered the stable first string unless the betting hints otherwise.

Form: 7-5

An Cailin Ciuin⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight

50/1

Had 2 outings at Punchestown for Mags Mullins at the end of 2023, finishing last of 6 in a listed mares' hurdle before finishing mid-field in a bumper. A watching brief is advised.

Form: 3-268

Non-Runners

Huffin An A Puffin

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Harry Derham J: Paul O'Brien

Patanita⁴³⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: G Nicholls J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Toss Of A Coin (10/11), Ballybentragh (5/4), Amarillobymorning (9/1), Patanita (12/1), Huffin An A Puffin (16/1), Just Chasing May (33/1), An Cailin Ciuin (50/1)

TOSS OF A COIN is taken to build on his Exeter success before Christmas and provide the Paul Nicholls yard with a third win in this race in the last 4 years. Fellow hurdle winner Ballybentragh is the obvious danger unless the betting vibes are strong surrounding one of the hurdle newcomers.