South West Rail Solutions Ltd Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 3.45s

Kauto The King^p,t¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 110| D

10/11

Bolstered his impressive strike rate over fences at Newton Abbot in August and similar form when second at Exeter (19.2f) last month. Struggled with rise in class at Wincanton 18 days ago but he looks up to playing his part returned to smaller obstacles now.

Form: 521424

Loki's Mischief²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams

11/10

Ran to a fair level when runner-up on the first of 2 starts in bumpers. Looked more about stamina than speed when plugging on for fourth on hurdles bow in an Exeter maiden (18.5f) 23 days ago though, so this drop back in trip may not suit ideally.

Form: 274

Astro Babe^h⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Best| T: M Blake| OR: 64

40/1

Didn't offer a great deal of encouragement in bumpers/novice hurdles for Evan Williams and similar story since belatedly returning to action for David Pipe in recent months. Passed over now starting out for another new yard. Hood back on.

Form: 664/3-65

Jukebox Annie³⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: Claire Hitch

18/1

Landed a 3-runner bumper at Newton Abbot last September but failed to repeat that effort in a more competitive event at Hereford a month later and struggling when falling 2 out on C&D hurdles debut 12 months ago. Absent since and she's best watched.

Form: U19F-

Non-Runners

Tuxedo Junction¹⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: D Pipe J: Jack Tudor

Forecasts

Tuxedo Junction (4/5), Kauto The King (10/11), Loki's Mischief (11/10), Jukebox Annie (18/1), Astro Babe (40/1)

TUXEDO JUNCTION stepped up a little on his hurdling debut effort when runner-up in a big-field novice at Wincanton 18 days ago and, with further progress in the offing, he looks the way to go. 10-y-o Kauto The King is better known as a fair handicap chaser but may well emerge as the chief threat returned to smaller obstacles.