Ascona Group Roadside Retail Specialists Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 3m 57.64s

Bobby's Nelson⁶⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| BF

7/2

£60,000 Irish point recruit who made a promising start to his Rules career when second in a heavy-ground Chepstow bumper in January 2024. Not seen since but still much respected now starting out over hurdles.

Form: 22/

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Dixie Mafia^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

80/1

Winning Irish pointer who made a promising start for his new yard when fourth in 2m novice at Warwick. Failed to build on it when eighth over 2m4f here 12 days ago but is worth another chance.

Form: 611U4-8

Livingit Du Large²⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 116| D

6/1

Built on debut promise when landing the odds in 6-runner juvenile hurdle at Chepstow (16f, heavy) 9 months ago, despite jumping ponderously. A likely player on his seasonal return.

Form: 31-

Our Boy Stan²⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| D

4/9

Excellent debut effort when second in listed bumper at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Duly built on that when battling well to go one better at Kempton in February. Interesting hurdling prospect.

Form: 21-

Trade War³²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Evan Williams| BF

18/1

Flemensfirth gelding who shaped encouragingly when fourth of 6 in bumper here 10 months ago. Can't be discounted now going hurdling.

Form: 4-

Non-Runners

Kocktail Bleu²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: C Gordon J: Non Runner

Phineas Bunce²⁵²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Our Boy Stan (4/9), Kocktail Bleu (5/2), Bobby's Nelson (7/2), Phineas Bunce (9/2), Livingit Du Large (6/1), Trade War (18/1), Dixie Mafia (80/1)

None of these can be ruled out but it could pay to side with Ben Pauling's OUR BOY STAN to build on his fairly useful-winning bumper form and make a successful start in this sphere. Jamie Snowden's Livingit du Large has experience on his side and rates a big danger. Phineas Bunce is another to keep on side.