South West Rail Solutions, EBF Junior 'National Hunt' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:21 | Winning time: 4m 18.21s

Apollon Forlonge

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: W Greatrex

3/1

Karaktar gelding. Dam, 2¼m chase winner in France, half-sister to very smart hurdler/top-class chaser (stayed 3m) Asterion Forlonge. Would very much enter the reckoning if the betting suggests he's fancied.

Form:

Maxios Aurelius¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

15/2

5/1, needed experience when eighth of 12 in bumper at Aintree (17f, good) on debut 15 days ago, not knocked about. The fact he was prominent in the market suggests he'd been giving the right signals at home. Wastes no time switching to hurdles.

Form: 8

Mwabani

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams

10/11

Masked Marvel gelding. Dam 15f bumper winner in France. A much respected newcomer for stable which has tasted recent success in this contest.

Form:

Tenter Le Tout²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: Chester Williams| BF

18/5

15/8, fourth of 13 in bumper at Stratford (2m, good to soft) on debut 24 days ago. Harry Cobden retains the ride now hurdling. Considered.

Form: 4

Non-Runners

Maestro Du Mesnil²⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 3

T: C Boultbee-Brooks J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Mwabani (10/11), Apollon Forlonge (3/1), Maestro Du Mesnil (3/1), Tenter Le Tout (18/5), Maxios Aurelius (15/2)

Jane Williams has had a few run well in this in recent times, including a win in 2022, so the suggestion is her newcomer MWABANI, with confidence increased should the betting vibes be strong. Tenter Le Tout gets the nod for the forecast spot.