Pertemps Network 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:05 | Winning time: 4m 22.10s

Catchim^t¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: C & A Pogson

6/1

€72,000 3-y-o, £3,000 6-y-o, Doyen gelding. Made frame all 5 completed starts in points and was good enough to make a winning start under Rules in 14-runner novice hurdle (10/1) at Southwell (20.4f, good) in June. Giving 7 lb to Tripoli Flyer is a tough ask, however.

Form: 2/P423-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bennettshill¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: Henry Oliver

25/1

Irish point winner in 2023 but little to shout about in 2 hurdle runs recently.

Form: 5/1-P2

Elite Etoile⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby

125/1

Well held in bumper/maiden hurdle for John Joseph Hanlon.

Form: 98

Elusive Shine²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

100/1

Made frame all 3 starts in Irish points but beaten a long way both starts over hurdles.

Form: 44-295

Milan Milos⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: T R Gretton

150/1

Made frame first of 3 starts in bumpers for Tom Weston but was tailed off in maiden at Fakenham on hurdling debut/return last week.

Form: 40-55

Tripoli Flyer²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien

1/14

Getaway gelding who improved with each start in bumpers last season, off the mark at second attempt at Lingfield before excellent second in Aintree Grade 2. Beaten only by another decent prospect on hurdling bow/return at Chepstow and hard to oppose here.

Form: 512-2

Non-Runners

Queens Wish²¹⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: L Morgan J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Tripoli Flyer (1/14), Catchim (6/1), Queens Wish (6/1), Bennettshill (25/1), Elusive Shine (100/1), Elite Etoile (125/1), Milan Milos (150/1)

TRIPOLI FLYER was most progressive in bumpers (shaped best when runner-up in Grade 2 at Aintree) and made a highly encouraging hurdling debut after 7 months off when beaten only by another decent prospect who had both a fitness and experience edge at Chepstow 3 weeks ago. Fergal O'Brien's charge can land the odds en route to better things. Penalised winner Catchim and expensive point-recruit Queens Wish can battle for minor honours.