EBF Junior 'National Hunt' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 4m 16.55s

Smart Decision³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr William Easterby⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 115

1/5

Debut juvenile winner at Doncaster in November. Looked booked for second when unseating rider at Haydock a month later but defied a penalty in professional fashion from the front at Carlisle a month. Very much the one to beat.

Form: 1U1

Bohemond Antioch⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

9/1

Modest bumper performer but is in good hands switched to hurdling at an ordinary level.

Form: 244

Cap Ricochet¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Paul Collins| OR: 85

16/1

Hadn't looked much in bumpers and yet to achieve a great deal over hurdles, already looking a bit of a handful when unseating rider at Sedgefield last month. Completed at Wetherby latest but was never involved.

Form: 475U6

Jet Approach³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison

28/1

Jet Away gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser Bold Enough and bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Wilful. Bred to need time and distance and shaped that way in bumpers.

Form: 43

Popa Rich²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 90

10/1

Quietly progressive over hurdles, closing up late against superior couple of rivals at Market Rasen a month ago.

Form: 623

Just An Artist^h1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander

33/1

Masterstroke filly. Dam unraced half-sister to smart hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 3m) Bitofapuzzle. From a good jumping family and wasn't given an overly-hard time in a Musselburgh bumper 3 weeks ago. Hood on for hurdles debut.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Smart Decision (1/5), Bohemond Antioch (9/1), Popa Rich (10/1), Cap Ricochet (16/1), Jet Approach (28/1), Just An Artist (33/1)

SMART DECISION looks an uncomplicated juvenile and while he has a double penalty to shoulder, this looks a good piece of placing by connections. Just An Artist is bred to excel over obstacles so is expected to leave his bumper run behind and offer most resistance.