CM Bespoke Care Ltd Novices' Claiming Hurdle

Off time: 12:58 | Winning time: 3m 56.4s

Land Afar¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 123

10/11

Has clearly had his problems since showing fairly useful form in bumpers for Anthony McCann but shaped well back from a long absence at Huntingdon in March and ran to similar level when creditable second of 6 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good to soft) 18 days ago. Ought to go well again.

Form: P414/2-2

Global Esteem^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 110| D

11/4

Off the mark over timber at Market Rasen (16.6f) in August and added to that success when landing 5-runner handicap at Huntingdon (15.8f, good, 2/1) 22 days ago, kept up to work. Another bold bid is likely.

Form: 228131

Laser Focus^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 108

5/2

Successful 3 times on the Flat this year and wide-margin winner of handicaps at Huntingdon (20.7f, good) and Fakenham (23.4f, good to soft) in this sphere last month. Undone by 20lb higher mark when fourth at Sedgefield (19.9f) latest but must enter calculations here.

Form: 44U114

Shabano^h⁵²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: T Faulkner

100/1

Once-raced maiden over hurdles who hasn't been seen since well beaten on Flat 17 months ago. Best watched on return for new yard here.

Form: 6-

Mambo Beat¹⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 82

22/1

Fair winner at 10f on Flat but not reached that level in this sphere so far and looks up against on these terms. Off 6 months.

Form: 9443-5

Ballet Blanc^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: R J Price

200/1

Modest maiden on Flat who has failed to complete in both starts over hurdles. Hard to recommend. Tongue strap on first time in this sphere.

Form: PP-

Habibi^h⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: S Grantham⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 71

200/1

Limited in bumpers and has yet to trouble the judge in a handful starts over jumps. Best watched.

Form: 8-PU590

Forecasts

Land Afar (10/11), Laser Focus (5/2), Global Esteem (11/4), Mambo Beat (22/1), Shabano (100/1), Habibi (200/1), Ballet Blanc (200/1)

LAND AFAR ran well behind a promising sort at Uttoxeter last month and can belatedly open his account here. Laser Focus and Global Esteem are the obvious dangers.