Gary Bridgwater Turns 60 Today Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 3m 40.21s

Ballyeaston¹⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien

2/1

£50,000 purchase out of unraced sister to smart hurdler/high-class chaser (2m-23f winner) Hidden Cyclone. Went close sole start between the flags during the spring and he's of strong interest on this Rules debut.

Form: 2-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Maxfly D'agrostis¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: K Brogan| T: L Horsfall

28/1

Fetched €45,000 as a 3-y-o, but he failed to pull up any trees in a couple of runs between the flags earlier this year (gelded since). Opposable on Rules debut.

Form: 8-4

Creeping Tom⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

18/1

Exhibited signs of ability when fifth in a 6-runner C&D bumper on debut in August, but he may need more time and distance.

Form: 5

Hay Max¹⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: C E Longsdon| BF

8/13

€75,000 half-brother to useful hurdler/chaser Solitary Man and positive start to his career when finding just one too good in a Bangor bumper (16.7f, good) in April. Likely to make a bold bid to go one better here.

Form: 2-

Babs

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: Henry Oliver

22/1

Poet's Word filly. Dam lightly raced in bumpers/over hurdles. Yard seldom strikes with newcomers and she's probably best watched on this occasion.

Form:

Nautical Queen

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

20/1

Sea Moon filly. Half-sister to 4 winners, including fairly useful hurdlers/chasers Scipion and Classic Concorde. Entitled to come on for the run.

Form:

Forecasts

Hay Max (8/13), Ballyeaston (2/1), Creeping Tom (18/1), Nautical Queen (20/1), Babs (22/1), Maxfly D'agrostis (28/1)

HAY MAX shaped like a ready-made future winner when runner-up on debut at Bangor during the spring and he is taken to go one better here, perhaps at the chief expense of point recruit Ballyeaston. Creeping Tom is in good hands, but it's likely that he will be seen in a better light when faced with a stiffer test further down the line.