Stepway Supporting Veterans In Civilian Life Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 3m 47.56s

Jefe Triunfo²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| CD

4/1

Won on a bumper here on debut in 2023. Trio of heavy defeats followed but much more like it when springing a surprise in 7-runner maiden hurdle at Warwick a month ago (favourite made a mess of the last). Penalty to carry.

Form: 1/97-51

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Knights Affair²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 109| D

9/4

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat (stays 2m) for David O'Meara, successful twice in 2024. Perfect start to hurdles career when landing a maiden at Huntingdon (20.7f, good) in May and didn't do a lot wrong when second at Newton Abbot (21.6f). Back in trip and he's open to progress.

Form: 12

Intosomethinggood²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| CD

13/8

Ran out on his hurdling bow at Chepstow in January but redeemed himself when landing 11-runner novice over C&D 3 weeks ago, finding extra. Open to progress now he's back on track.

Form: 383R0-1

Nana Noodleman²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| CD

4/1

Berkshire mare. Half-sister to modest hurdler Another Nightmare. Dam half-sister to Champion Hurdle winner (stayed 2½m) Rooster Booster. Second in a point and showed plenty of pace when going one place better in a course bumper 3 weeks ago. Bred to do well over obstacles.

Form: P2-1

Non-Runners

Currumbin⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: Michael Keady J: J M Quinlan

Squire Danagher²⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Intosomethinggood (13/8), Knights Affair (9/4), Currumbin (3/1), Jefe Triunfo (4/1), Nana Noodleman (4/1), Squire Danagher (5/1)

A case of sorts can be made for most but NANA NOODLEMAN won a bumper at this track and in receipt of weight all round, she could well be the way to go on hurdles debut (dam a half-sister to the high-class hurdler Rooster Booster). Knights Affair and Intosomethinggood are open to improvement and are feared most.