Luke Watson Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 4.58s

Bold Recruit⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 113

10/3

Placed both completed starts in points and has finished in the money on each of his 4 starts under Rules, too. Shaped as though this stiffer test would be right up his street when third upped to 20.5f at Plumpton last time and a bold show could be on the way.

Form: 32-2223

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Doctor Midas⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

11/2

Only fifth of 11 when sent off favourite in Haydock bumper last spring and safely held on return/hurdles bow at Warwick (21f, soft). That said, he is in very good hands and it could be that this stiffer test will be just what he needs.

Form: 55

Keel Strand⁶⁴

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

11/2

Runner-up sole start in Irish points last spring and stepped up on his low-key Rules debut effort in a bumper when fourth of 13 starting out over hurdles at Wincanton (19.8f, soft) in December. Good deal more needed here but this step up in trip is well worth exploring.

Form: 2-74

Loch Frisa²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

20/1

Just minor promise in a Southwell bumper/Plumpton maiden hurdle to date and handicaps will presumably be on the agenda before long.

Form: 74

Pike Road¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 112

6/5

Runner-up in a point and in maiden hurdles at Worcester and Uttoxeter before finishing fifth of 8 switched to handicap company at Catterick (25.3f, good to soft) last time. Solid claims back in a maiden and reunited with Sean Bowen.

Form: 7225

Queensland Boy^p⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams

125/1

Won twice on the Flat and he's certainly bred for this game but it's been a struggle since he registered his latest win on the level at Nottingham last spring.

Form:

Swift Jet²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R T Phillips

12/1

Beaten a long way on Rules debut in an Exeter bumper last February but there was promise in his reappearance/hurdles debut fifth at Doncaster (19.4f, good to soft), particularly with staying handicaps in mind.

Form: 49-5

Forecasts

Pike Road (6/5), Bold Recruit (10/3), Doctor Midas (11/2), Keel Strand (11/2), Swift Jet (12/1), Loch Frisa (20/1), Queensland Boy (125/1)

It's probably fair to say PIKE ROAD didn't improve on his maiden hurdle form when fifth on handicap debut at Catterick but that was still a decent effort and he shades preference ahead of Bold Recruit. Big-yard representatives Doctor Midas and Keel Strand may both step up on what they've shown so far now faced with a stiffer test, while Swift Jet could also have a part to play.