AIS Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 12.27s

Bill Joyce²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 136| D

6/1

£225,000 point recruit who won his first 2 bumpers. Tailed off in Champion Bumper but he outclassed 7 opponents with a striking success at Carlisle and also dominated a Grade 2 at Sandown early last month. Shaped second-best when third in the Grade 1 Challow 4 weeks ago and remains a top prospect.

Form: 110-113

Potters Charm³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 146| CD

8/15

Runner-up only outing in points and unbeaten all 5 starts under Rules, finding further improvement when landing 7-runner Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (17f, soft) last month. Sets the standard on form and remains open to further progress.

Form: 21-1111

Gamesters Guy⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Reveley| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 127

20/1

Dual bumper winner last season and came within a short head of making a winning hurdles debut at Bangor in October. The winner that day had gone in again, and he duly went one better when a wide-margin winner at Carlisle (19.3f, soft) just under 8 weeks ago. Open to further improvement.

Form: 131-21

Kdeux Saint Fray^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: A J Honeyball| D

16/1

Point winner who made a successful start under Rules when rallying to lead again close home bumper at Ascot in November and barely came off the bridle as he also made a successful debut over hurdles at Catterick (19.3f, good) 4 weeks ago. One to follow and should acquit himself well up in grade.

Form: 2-111

Quebecois⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131

20/1

Expensive purchase after runner-up in a point and recorded easy success in Exeter bumper on Rules bow. Well held in Champion Bumper next time but ran out impressive winner on hurdles debut at Chepstow in October and built on that when runner-up to Bill Joyce in Sandown Grade 2 (19.8f, soft) since.

Form: 2/10-12

Sixmilebridge^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128| D

9/1

£100,000 buy after finishing runner-up completed start in Irish points and looked above average in bumpers. Built on hurdling debut with impressive success in a novice at Leicester last month and was motoring at the finish when following up at Huntingdon earlier this month. Remains with potential.

Form: 2/10-211

Wade Out³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 128

12/1

Won sole point and successful on sole start in bumpers. Made the perfect start in this sphere at Uttoxeter in October and, having improved when second at Ascot next time, resumed winning ways in 3-runner event at Lingfield (16f, good to soft) last month. Better to come now upped in trip.

Form: 11-121

Forecasts

Potters Charm (8/15), Bill Joyce (6/1), Sixmilebridge (9/1), Wade Out (12/1), Kdeux Saint Fray (16/1), Quebecois (20/1), Gamesters Guy (20/1)

POTTERS CHARM was reported to be heading straight to the Festival after his top-level success at Aintree on Boxing Day but, clearly in top order at home, Nigel Twiston-Davies' 6-y-o can add another graded victory to his CV and maintain his unbeaten record under Rules. Bill Joyce lost his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Grade 1 Challow last month but remains with potential, while wide-margin Carlisle winner Gamesters Guy can edge out the undefeated Kdeux Saint Fray for minor honours.