Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 5m 9.19s

Kingston Pride⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

10/11

Point/bumper winner who made perfect start in this sphere after 7 months off when landing a 6-runner Uttoxeter maiden (2½m, good to soft) in November. Underfoot conditions presumably against him (soft) when pulled up in Grade 2 a month later and he remains with plenty of potential.

Form: 1/21-1P

Quebecois⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam Harrison| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131

1/1

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 not disgraced in a pair of Grade 2s since.

Form: 2/10-124

In The Shade⁴⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A KingWS

40/1

Bred to a useful jumper but offered little in a Warwick bumper on debut 14 months ago. Upped markedly in trip for hurdling debut.

Form: 0-

Kicks And Ale⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan| T: R Rowe

80/1

Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points, though that was back in May 2021 and he hasn't shown enough in 3 starts under Rules to be of interest.

Form: P15/94

Forecasts

Kingston Pride (10/11), Quebecois (1/1), In The Shade (40/1), Kicks And Ale (80/1)

A likely match between KINGSTON PRIDE and Quebecois, with narrow preference for the former, who seemingly failed to handle conditions when pulled up in the same Grade 2 Quebecois finished second in back in December and retains plenty of potential now retuned to less testing ground.