Dave Boydon 60th Birthday Celebration Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 8.79s

A Pai De Nom²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

5/6

Made it 2-3 over hurdles when coming from off the pace to account for 17 rivals on his handicap bow at Cheltenham (21f, soft) last month. Couldn't be certain that he'll be suited by this drop in trip, particularly now returning to a small-field scenario, but he's clearly a promising novice.

Form: 25-121

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North Of Richmond³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| D

5/1

£75,000 buy who was runner-up only outing in Irish points and went one better on Rules debut in a 6-runner Bangor bumper in October 2024. Also made a winning start over hurdles on return at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) and while that form is nothing to get excited about, he's open to improvement.

Form: 212-1

Fanny Moon²⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley

200/1

Safely held in a couple of bumpers during the spring and readily passed over now sent hurdling.

Form: 9-7

Romany King^h,t1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E LongsdonWS

40/1

£45,000 purchase after winning sole start in Irish points last December. Equipped with a hood (retained here; tongue strap now enlisted, too) when trailing in last of 10 on hurdles debut at Ffos Las where he raced keenly and dropped out tamely in the home straight. Since undergone a wind op.

Form: 1-0

Seaview Rock^h1⁶⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Sutton⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy

10/1

Close third in a maiden point on sole run between the flags in February 2024. Subsequently sold for £72,000 and the market should point the way in terms of expectations ahead of this Rules debut.

Form: 3/

Tread Carefully²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

5/2

Runner-up in a Uttoxeter bumper in March and duly built on reappearance/hurdles debut promise when finding just one too good in a 2m Sandown maiden last month. Pulled nicely clear of the rest with the potentially useful winner that day and likely to go one better before long.

Form: 2-72

Forecasts

A Pai De Nom (5/6), Tread Carefully (5/2), North Of Richmond (5/1), Seaview Rock (10/1), Romany King (40/1), Fanny Moon (200/1)

Despite misgivings regarding the suitability of this trip, A PAI DE NOM earns the vote on the back of his victory in a competitive, big-field Cheltenham handicap. He remains capable of better and this stiff track will go some way towards offsetting the drop in distance. Tread Carefully is the clear main danger on the back of his solid effort at Sandown. North of Richmond is another promising type and should make his presence felt, too.