Spa Motors Hereford Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 3m 51.76s

Mirabad²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland| OR: 115| BF

8/13

Useful on Flat and took well to hurdling in the spring, winning a 2m Wincanton maiden in April. Below par when 15 lengths second over 18.5f at Exeter 25 days ago but it was his first outing for 5 months and the return to 2m could suit him better.

Form: 41-22

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bold Recruit¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Billy Aprahamian

6/4

Five-race maiden pointer but showed fair form when runner-up in a pair of bumpers at the start of the summer. Will be a threat to Mirabad if he can translate that level of ability to hurdles.

Form: P/F32-22

Castadrift¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson

22/1

Made the frame in sole bumper start but might be more one for handicaps in this sphere judged on his 2 runs in novices last month.

Form: 71465

Millions Memories⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts

40/1

Modest handicapper on Flat (stays 1½m) who was beaten a long way back from nearly a year off at Chester in September. Can only be watched now hurdling.

Form:

Nut Wood²⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux

150/1

No promise in a bumper and novice hurdle for Craig Lidster in the spring. Returns with a new stable.

Form: 7P-

Arctic Angel²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

80/1

Offered something to work on when third in Newton Abbot bumper in May but no show in 2 hurdle outings in quick succession last month.

Form: 3P8

Forecasts

Mirabad (8/13), Bold Recruit (6/4), Castadrift (22/1), Millions Memories (40/1), Arctic Angel (80/1), Nut Wood (150/1)

This will likely to develop into a straight fight between MIRABAD and Bold Recruit, with preference for the former who has already shown he can do it over hurdles and should be sharper for last month's comeback run at Exeter.