British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:38 | Winning time: 5m 11.58s

Elysian Knight³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 121| D

15/8

Hurdles debut fourth at Plumpton was encouraging and subsequently took a big step forward when landing a 10-runner Ffos Las maiden (2½m, heavy) last month. There's substance to that form (the race has already produced 3 next-time-out winners) and this 6-y-o is open to further improvement.

Form: 33641

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Escapologist²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| CD

7/2

Gradual race-by-race progress in 3 bumpers for Joe Ponting and continued that theme when making a winning hurdles/yard debut over this C&D (good to soft), proving a neck too strong for the re-opposing Aviation. Probably capable of better still but certainly has more on his plate under a penalty.

Form: 7431

Aviation²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 115

1/1

Placed all 3 starts since switched to hurdles, most recently beaten ½-length by Escapologist in a C&D maiden, a race he may well have won but for becoming embroiled in a battle for the lead at around the midway point. Meets the winner on 7 lb better terms this time and holds very strong claims.

Form: 4322

Jack's Jury⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A M Thorpe

40/1

Last of 6 finishers sole start in Irish points but there were positives to glean from his hurdles debut fourth in an 11-runner Sedgefield maiden (19.8f, soft) last week. Likely that handicaps will be on the agenda soon enough and he'll be interesting when going down that route.

Form: 6-4

Walk The Plank²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: C Hobson

300/1

Beaten a long way sole start in Ireland for previous connections and didn't fare much better when well behind Escapologist and Aviation over C&D on yard debut last month.

Form: 06

Forecasts

Aviation (1/1), Elysian Knight (15/8), Escapologist (7/2), Jack's Jury (40/1), Walk The Plank (300/1)

Though AVIATION was beaten by Escapologist over C&D last time, there was only ½-length in it and, now 7 lb better off with that rival, Lucy Wadham's charge is confidently expected to emerge on top this time. Escapologist nevertheless merits respect given that he remains with potential, but a bigger threat to Aviation may be posed by Elysian Knight, who raised his game when scoring at Ffos Las and should have more to offer.