bet365 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 22.26s

Below The Radar⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls

3/1

Runner-up in 2 points and landed a Chepstow bumper in November before making an impressive start in this sphere in 8-runner novice hurdle at Hereford (21.7f, good to soft, 11/4) 47 days ago. Open to a fair bit more progress so he's a big player.

Form: 22-11

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Leading Choice⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 115| D

10/3

Fairly useful bumper winner who made light of a 15-month absence to bag 7-runner novice hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) 42 days ago. Should progress further. In the mix.

Form: 15/32-1

Range⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 125

5/2

Fair form in bumpers last season and got off the mark in 2m3f maiden hurdle at Chepstow in December. Took his form up a notch when fifth of 10 to Kerryhill in River Don Hurdle at Doncaster (24.4f, good) 49 days ago so must enter calculations despite reverting in trip.

Form: 235-215

Casual Observer²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

16/1

Points runner-up who has gone with promise on both novice hurdle starts (around 2m4f) this term when second at Wincanton and fifth at Ascot. This is tougher but he can do better still.

Form: 2-425

Don't Rightly Know²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry| OR: 121| D

11/4

Scored at Exeter in November and she has posted two excellent efforts this year to be runner-up over 3m in handicap at Newbury and Prestige Hurdle at Haydock. Leading form claims.

Form: 2/12322

Forecasts

Range (5/2), Don't Rightly Know (11/4), Below The Radar (3/1), Leading Choice (10/3), Casual Observer (16/1)

A fascinating novice in which Polly Gundry's likeable mare DON'T RIGHTLY KNOW is taken to put her experience to good use and resume winning ways at the chief expense of Paul Nicholls' promising Hereford scorer Below The Radar. Range and Leading Choice can't be discounted either.