Annual Membership At leicesterraces Great Christmas Present Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 5m 16.14s

Island Bridge²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

5/6

£75,000 purchase who was successful on second outing in points. Improved from Rules debut when third in Ffos Las bumper in April and produced a promising first effort on return/hurdles bow when fourth of 13 in Cheltenham novice last month. Will progress and looks the one to beat.

Form: 2/103-4

Jaja Jimmy^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Miss J S Davis

40/1

Modest in bumpers and failed to complete through no fault of his own sent hurdling 7 months off at Chepstow (16f, good to firm) last month, probably set to drop away when hampered and unseated rider 3 out. Looks an easy swerve.

Form: 635-U

Kicour La^t1²⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

13/8

€50,000 3-y-o, £65,000 5-y-o, Nom De D'la gelding. Dam maiden over hurdles/fences in France. Tongue strap applied and looks to have a leading chance for a yard going great guns (finished runner-up sole start in Irish points in February).

Form: 2-

Our Bobby Dazzler²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley

33/1

No better than mid-division in 2 bumpers back in the spring and will need to leave those efforts behind switched to hurdles on return.

Form: 85-

Arcadian Star³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds

7/1

Shaped with promise amidst greenness when sixth of 12 in a steadily-run bumper at Huntingdon on debut and did so again sent hurdling after 8 months off at Chepstow recently. Heads up in trip and improvement required if he's to feature.

Form: 5-7

This Sway¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: David Bass| T: M Comley

200/1

Offered little in bumpers and fared no better switched to hurdling after 4 months off when pulled up at Newbury (16.3f, good to soft) 11 days ago. One for later on.

Form: 48P

Forecasts

Island Bridge (5/6), Kicour La (13/8), Arcadian Star (7/1), Our Bobby Dazzler (33/1), Jaja Jimmy (40/1), This Sway (200/1)

This looks a match on paper between ISLAND BRIDGE and Kicour La, with preference for the former having produced a promising first effort over hurdles when fourth in a Cheltenham novice just over 3 weeks ago. Ben Pauling has his string in decent nick, so it would be no surprise should his Irish point runner-up give the selection plenty to think about on Rules bow.