Pontesbury Tractors Case IH Red Power 'Introductory' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 5m 22.82s

Deep Purple¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton

11/4

Point winner who confirmed promise of Rules debut when off the mark in a bumper at Southwell 15 days ago. Longer trip will suit on hurdling debut and he's of definite interest.

Form: 2/221-21

Lightningupourdays¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph

6/1

Some promise when in frame all 3 starts in bumpers and showed a bit in a novice at Uttoxeter on hurdling debut 6 months ago. Will likely be of more interest in handicaps, though.

Form: 4/33-4

Wendigo²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| BF

8/15

£70,000 recruit from the Irish pointing field who built on his Worcester debut third when landing short odds in a Hexham bumper a year ago. Good start to hurdling on first start since when second in a novice at the same course. Can go one better.

Form: 3/1311-2

Lennie Godber¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Benjamin Poste| T: S Cameron

200/1

No show in 2 bumpers for Nigel Twiston-Davies in March and failed to beat a rival on hurdling/stable debut at Aintree 11 days ago. Hard to fancy.

Form: 60-7

Non-Runners

The Expensive One²⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 4

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Wendigo (8/15), Deep Purple (11/4), The Expensive One (11/2), Lightningupourdays (6/1), Lennie Godber (200/1)

Bumper winner WENDIGO returned from almost a year off with an excellent second in a novice at Hexham on hurdling debut and this step up in trip should be in his favour, so he gets the vote ahead of Deep Purple, who should take to this sphere. The Expensive One can compete if the extra distance brings improvement out of him.