Vic Sweeney 80th Birthday Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 27.34s

Big Bert³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: James Owen

9/1

13/2, only fifth of 6 in novice hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) on hurdles bow 34 days ago. In very good hands but need to take a big step forward.

Form: 1-295

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Dublin City²⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: J S Smith

66/1

€26,000 3-y-o, Walk In The Park gelding. Dam, runner-up sole start in bumpers, is closely related to fairly useful chaser (stayed 3m) Jimmil. Placed in a point so no forlorn hope on his hurdling bow.

Form: P6-3

Monty Bodkin^t1¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: J & A O'NeillWS

4/1

Improved when winning Doncaster bumper last February for Ben Pauling. Switched yards and shaped well sent hurdling after 9 months off when sixth at Carlisle (20f, good to soft) in November. Has had a wind op since and capable of better.

Form: 261-6

Nativehill^t1⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/11

Changed hands for £260,000 after winning between the flags and made a promising hurdling debut when second of 8 in novice at Newbury (20.5f, soft, 9/4) in December. Tongue strap on 1st time. The clear form pick.

Form: 61/2

Tchoupinminzac³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R Newland| OR: 105

16/1

Dual bumper winner but lightly raced over hurdles and off 21 months before a solid third of 8 in novice at Uttoxeter (15.8f, soft) 36 days ago. Not ruled out if building on it.

Form: 110P/2-3

Apieceovfortune¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly

100/1

125/1, well-held fifth of 10 in novice hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) on hurdles bow 18 days ago. Lots more is required.

Form: 095

Non-Runners

Bertie The Rebel³⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: Miss J S Davis J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Nativehill (4/11), Monty Bodkin (4/1), Big Bert (9/1), Tchoupinminzac (16/1), Dublin City (66/1), Apieceovfortune (100/1), Bertie The Rebel (100/1)

Nicky Henderson's NATIVEHILL shaped well when runner-up on his hurdling bow at Newbury and this point winner can go one better here at the chief expense of Monty Bodkin who also brings a fair amount of potential on the back of a promising debut Carlisle sixth. Tchoupinminzac and Big Bert can fight it out for minor honours.