Restorations UK Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:26 | Winning time: 5m 26.91s

Kloth Of Utopia³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: James Reveley| T: N George & A Zetterholm

8/11

Useful form, scoring by 12 lengths at Auteuil (2¼m, soft) last month. Sets a good standard and this longer trip might see him pull out even more.

Form: 4-51

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Touquet³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

17/2

Bumper winner last November who returned from wind surgery to make a successful hurdle debut at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) last month. That bare form is ordinary but he's from a top yard with a good recent record in this race.

Form: 15-1

Western Knight²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

6/1

Second in the first of 2 bumper starts and overcome some sloppy jumping to make a winning start over hurdles in 2½m Uttoxeter novice 3 weeks ago. Looks sure to progress if his hurdling improves with experience.

Form: 2/7-1

Copper Jack²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Anthony Charlton

100/1

Irish point winner but only seventh in a Newton Abbot bumper for new connections last month. This longer trip more suitable now hurdling but this looks a tough ask.

Form: 521-7

Excello²⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| CWS

11/4

Useful form over hurdles and fences at up to 2¾m in France. Second outing for Nicky Henderson when winning a 21f course graduation chase last December. Came unstuck in very strong Cheltenham handicaps subsequently but respected back over the smaller obstacles on reappearance after a breathing op.

Form: 12/310P-

Non-Runners

Silver Thorn³⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Joe Anderson

Forecasts

Kloth Of Utopia (8/11), Excello (11/4), Silver Thorn (4/1), Western Knight (6/1), Touquet (17/2), Copper Jack (100/1)

KLOTH OF UTOPIA won easily at Auteuil last month and can make a successful foray across the Channel with the longer trip this afternoon expected to be in his favour. Nicky Henderson course chase winner Excello had some useful form over hurdles in France at the start of his career and is second choice ahead of Western Knight.