Tennent's Lager Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 5m 11.35s

Chart Topper⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| BF

4/11

Winless following 3 attempts in bumpers but has looked a different proposition since switched to hurdles, winning a Downpatrick maiden (17.7f, good) and Wetherby novice (2m, heavy) in good style. Found all bar a much-improved one too good in a Grade 2 at Kelso since and has excellent claims.

Form: 5-33112

The Jukebox Kid²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| D

3/1

Bought for £135,000 after easily winning sole start in Irish points and made a successful Rules debut in 9-runner novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, soft) 4 weeks ago, batting well. Seems sure to progress if coping fine with these less testing conditions.

Form: 1-1

Gale Mahler^p,t1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 124| D

9/1

Made it 6 wins on the spin in listed hurdle at Galway (2m) in July. Has proven more miss than hit since, however, pulling up at Kelso on most recent outing. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 23420P

Non-Runners

Queensbury Boy²²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: Harry Derham J: Mr D Maxwell

Herja⁵⁸

Weight: 10-9| Age: 5

T: P Griffin J: Nathan Moscrop

Forecasts

Chart Topper (4/11), Queensbury Boy (5/2), The Jukebox Kid (3/1), Gale Mahler (9/1), Herja (33/1)

QUEENSBURY BOY and Chart Topper are the pair that make most appeal. The latter has clocked some strong timefigures, notably when second in a Grade 2 at Kelso on most recent outing, but the former has more scope to improve further as a hurdler given his smart bumper form, which swings the vote narrowly in his favour.