East Sussex Farmers Benevolent Fund Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 5m 26.65s

Crest Of Valour³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball

14/1

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Lord Roco and bumper winner (for this yard) Crest of Glory. Needed the experience but showed ability when sixth in a 9-runner bumper at Fontwell on debut, lacking a turn of foot to get involved. Should be better suited by this test on hurdle debut.

Form: 6

Fresh Kicks²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| BF

1/3

Point runner-up hails from a family his yard know well and he's been prominent in the betting on both starts, shaping like the best horse on first run following wind surgery when runner-up at Kempton (21f) on hurdle debut last time. Strong claims to go one better.

Form: P25-2

Fury Lad⁵⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe

66/1

Runner-up on second of 2 starts in Irish points (Oct 2023). Well held in a bumper on Rules debut in April last year and he's likely to need the run/experience on hurdle debut.

Form: P26/

Hillwalk³⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| BF

9/2

Promising start under Rules, travelled well when runner-up in a Chepstow bumper (good). Raced on the unfavoured part of the track when below form third at Fontwell (17.7f) on softer ground when last seen in January. Best not judged on that run and he looks an interesting hurdle debutant.

Form: F/23-

The Two Harrys²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: Harry Derham

8/1

Has shown ability but clearly hasn't been easy to train, going backwards hurdling bow (sweated up following 11 months off) when well held at Chepstow (19.5f) earlier this month. In good hands however and may take a step forward with that run under his belt.

Form: 36/4-7

Kill The Groove^t¹⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: M Goldstein| T: K Jewell

50/1

Showed ability in bumpers/hurdles for Ben Pauling but was let down by her jumping on final start for the yard. First run for new trainer but will have a better chance in handicaps.

Form: U09-333

Forecasts

Fresh Kicks (1/3), Hillwalk (9/2), The Two Harrys (8/1), Crest Of Valour (14/1), Kill The Groove (50/1), Fury Lad (66/1)

FRESH KICKS ticks plenty of boxes and he's taken to get off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles. Hillwalk showed plenty in bumpers and looks an interesting hurdling debutant, while it'll be the first time The Two Harrys has had two runs in the same season and he's not discounted if back on song.