Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 8.62s

Valgrand²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| C

5/6

Useful in bumpers and 3 from 3 over hurdles, posting a borderline smart performance in 6-runner Grade 2 here (16.4f) 3 weeks ago. Up in trip and open to further improvement.

Form: 2/24-111

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Potters Charm²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| C

7/4

Runner-up only outing in points and unbeaten all 3 starts under Rules, putting up a useful performance when winning 8-runner novice at this course (19.9f, good) 3 weeks ago. Open to further improvement.

Form: 21-11

Grandad's Cap¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: L Morgan

150/1

Very stiff task here and looks one for the longer term.

Form: F-5

Gale Mahler^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: A Keatley| OR: 133| BF| D

11/2

Most progressive and likeable mare, making it 6 wins on the spin (including bumpers) in 8-runner listed hurdle at Galway (2m) in July. No match for Valgrand here 12 weeks later but probably didn't give her true running. Back up in trip.

Form: 111112

Rockstown Girl^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: A McCann| OR: 122

40/1

Returned to form in a first-time tongue strap when defying a penalty in a 16-runner novice hurdle at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) 35 days ago, keeping on well. Has plenty more on her plate up in grade, however.

Form: 26-1431

Non-Runners

Wildfell¹⁰⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 4

T: D J Jeffreys J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Valgrand (5/6), Potters Charm (7/4), Gale Mahler (11/2), Rockstown Girl (40/1), Wildfell (66/1), Grandad's Cap (150/1)

VALGRAND and Potters Charm put their unbeaten records in this sphere on the line, with preference for the former, who produced a borderline smart performance when scoring in an excellent time here 3 weeks ago. Gale Mahler was no match for the selection on that occasion but probably didn't give her true running and can at least make more of an impact if returning to her Galway form.