QuinnBet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 0.76s

Court In A Storm^t¹⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

1/1

Lightly-raced 6-y-o who made it second time lucky in bumpers at Ludlow this time last year and benefited from the step up in trip after 6 months off when landing a maiden hurdle at Hereford (19.7f) back in April. Further increase in trip ought to suit on seasonal bow.

Form: 2/11-

Iamcelestialgift^t¹⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

10/1

£28,000 3-y-o, Spanish Moon gelding. Well backed when making a winning debut in a Carlisle maiden hurdle (19.3f) back in the spring, getting the message in time to lead final 50 yds. This will demand more under a penalty but he's another who looks likely to appreciate the longer trip.

Form: 1-

Jazz De Cotte⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116

6/1

Bumper winner who boasts a mixed record over hurdles but he returned to the pick of his form when landing a 7-runner Downpatrick maiden (21.8f) back in July, staying on to lead final 50 yds. Has since left Gordon Elliott and return to this longer trip will hold no fears.

Form: 1/P2-201

Axel Bleue^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen

7/4

Point winner who is also 2-3 in bumpers, defying a penalty when drawing the sting out of his market rival from the front in 5-runner contest at Newton Abbot (16.8f) 26 days ago. Still looked a bit green then and he's a bright prospect now his attentions switch to timber for the first time.

Form: P4-1121

Non-Runners

Fairlawn Skipper²⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: M Bowen J: Non Runner

Ignore The Door¹⁸⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: Harry Derham J: Non Runner

Kilbakanto³⁰²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Court In A Storm (1/1), Kilbakanto (5/4), Axel Bleue (7/4), Ignore The Door (5/1), Jazz De Cotte (6/1), Fairlawn Skipper (6/1), Iamcelestialgift (10/1)

Those with prior hurdles experience set only a fair standard and with that in mind it could be worth chancing one of the Rules debutants in the shape of KILBAKANTO and Ignore The Door. The former, a winner of his only start in Irish points shading the vote before the benefit of market clues. Hurdles scorer Court In A Storm and dual bumper winner Axel Bleue are others fancied to feature.