William Hill Racing Winnings Boost EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 4m 52.93s

Ballyeaston³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien

11/1

£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 promising start to Rules career when second of 6 in a Stratford bumper a month ago. This trip will suit now hurdling.

Form: 2-2

Lightfingered Jack

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

12/1

Third foal, dam (h148) bumper/2m-2¾m hurdle winner. Newcomer for successful yard so one to monitor closely in the betting.

Form:

On Deadly Ground⁵⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

6/4

€17,000 3-y-o, €95,000 4-y-o, second foal: half-brother to bumper winner/useful hurdler Potters Charm (17f-21f winner), Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler (2¼m winner) Earth King. Runner-up in Irish point (Apr 2024) but hasn't made it to the track since.

Form: 2/

Only Way Is Up²⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

7/2

Third sole start in Irish points in April 2024. Joined a leading yard but too green to show true worth in a bumper at Exeter in February. Should be plenty more to come over obstacles.

Form: 3/4-

Pertemps²⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy

9/1

€65,000 3-y-o, Milan gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including useful chaser Lord Schnitzel and fairly useful hurdler/chaser The Dubai Way, stays 2¾m. Similar form when placed twice in bumpers last season and way he shaped on each occasion suggests this trip will suit now hurdling.

Form: 33-

Spreadsheet Guru²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

5/2

Pulled up sole start in points but excellent start under Rules when second of 10 for Andrew Slattery in April. Since transferred to a successful stable so he's a fascinating contender now tackling obstacles.

Form: P2-

Non-Runners

Mossy Fen Coolio²⁷²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

On Deadly Ground (6/4), Spreadsheet Guru (5/2), Mossy Fen Coolio (5/2), Only Way Is Up (7/2), Pertemps (9/1), Ballyeaston (11/1), Lightfingered Jack (12/1)

There's depth to this novice with SPREADSHEET GURU receiving the vote having transferred to an up-and-coming yard following a runner-up effort in a bumper back in April. Ballyeaston and Pertemps will be suited by this trip now tackling obstacles so command respect, too.