PricedUp Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 4m 15.52s

Nap Hand²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 116

2/9

Three-time winner on the level and translated that ability to hurdles when placed in maiden hurdles around the turn of the year. After a spell back on the Flat, landed the odds (8/11) in novice hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) last month. The one to beat.

Form: 325-1

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Blazing Nelson⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J R Barlow

20/1

€9,000 3-y-o, £25,000 5-y-o, Mount Nelson gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 3½m) Riverside City out of fairly useful hurdler (stayed 2½m) Blazing Sky. Maiden Irish pointer, but was second when falling at the last latest start in May. Makes hurdle debut.

Form: 43F4-F

Quintus Arrius²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Niven

28/1

Dam half-sister to smart hurdler (winner around 2m) Nearby. Modest handicapper on Flat (stays 1m) but below form last 2 starts, well held upped in trip when last of 8 at Newcastle (10.2f) 3 weeks ago. Watch for market clues as he goes hurdling.

Form:

Selwan⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: C N Kellett

50/1

One-time useful perfomer on the Flat in France (stays 12.5f), but finished weakly in 3 starts over hurdles when trained by Alan King back in 2023/24. Placed once from 4 starts on the level for current yard this year, though shaped as if amiss on latest outing 6 weeks ago.

Form: PP7/

Squeezebox^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| BF

4/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1½m) for Michael Appleby. Without a win this year but has been in decent heart, in first-time cheekpieces when fourth of 6 at Beverley (9.9f, good to firm) 6 weeks ago. Interesting on stable/hurdling debut with hood refitted.

Form:

Woody's Boy⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 71

22/1

Remains a maiden after 7 starts over hurdles, faring no better in first-time visor when well-beaten seventh of 9 in handicap at this course (23.1f, good) in June. Best watched as he drops back in trip.

Form: PP7-957

You Did²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison

50/1

Was beaten a long way when placed both completed starts in points and has offered little in a pair of novice hurdles, tailed off at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) on latest outing in July. Has enough to prove.

Form: U32-85

Forecasts

Nap Hand (2/9), Squeezebox (4/1), Blazing Nelson (20/1), Woody's Boy (22/1), Quintus Arrius (28/1), Selwan (50/1), You Did (50/1)

A fairly useful handicapper on the Flat, NAP HAND opened his account over hurdles at the fourth attempt when scoring at Stratford last month and he looks to hold strong claims of following up. The one to give him most to think about could be Squeezebox as he goes hurdling on first start for Tom Lacey, with Blazing Nelson the pick of the remainder.