Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:58 | Winning time: 5m 11.23s

Admiral Stewart^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

18/1

£130,000 5-y-o. Half-brother to numerous winners, including useful hurdler/chaser The Crafty Butcher. Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points and confirmed the promise of his bumper second when going one place better on hurdles debut at Ffos Las a fortnight ago. More to come up in trip.

Form: 41-21

Ballytechno³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: James Owen| OR: 117| D

10/1

Showed minor promise in bumpers and different proposition sent hurdling for new yard supplementing his maiden success switched to a handicap at Ascot a month ago (19.3f). Value for extra than day and limit not reached but this is a different ask.

Form: 8/47211

Bill Joyce³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| D

4/1

£225,000 point recruit who won his first 2 bumpers. Found the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham too much but he outclassed 7 opponents with a striking success at Carlisle a month ago (20f). Sure to leave bare form well behind.

Form: 1/110-1

Kingston Pride²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

6/4

Successful sole start in Irish points last year and confirmed the promise of his Rules debut when readily landing the odds in an Exeter bumper in April. Also created a fine impression when landing the odds with the minimum of fuss at Uttoxeter 3 weeks ago. Plenty of scope for progress.

Form: 1/21-1

Pony Soprano⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

11/1

€135,000 Blue Bresil gelding. Dam, well held in bumpers, closely related to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 3m) Royal Player. Shaped like a stayer when third of 8 in a course bumper in February and he was expertly prepared to make a winning hurdles bow with a bit to spare at Exeter in October.

Form: 3-1

Quebecois³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

5/2

Expensive purchase after finishing second in a point and made no mistake first time under Rules, recording a facile success at Exeter in December. Well held in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham 3 months on but he jumped really nicely when an impressive winner on hurdles debut at Chepstow in October.

Form: 2/10-1

Forecasts

Kingston Pride (6/4), Quebecois (5/2), Bill Joyce (4/1), Ballytechno (10/1), Pony Soprano (11/1), Admiral Stewart (18/1)

As you'd expect for a Grade 2 novice, there's considerable potential on show, with BILL JOYCE just about the pick of the sextet. The fact he was sent off a single-figure price for the Champion Bumper in the spring confirms the regard he's held in and he made a smooth transition to hurdling at Carlisle 3 weeks ago. All 5 rivals are potential threats, headed by Quebecois and Kingston Pride.