Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 4m 14.78s

Crackerjacque^t1⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 119| CD

13/8

A fairly useful bumper winner who probably didn't need to match that form to make a successful hurdling debut at Fontwell (17.7f) in November. Struggled in Grade 2 company at Sandown since but this is more suitable.

Form: 510-15

Sinchi Roca¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S Hosie| D

16/5

£70,000 after winning sole outing in points. Fairly useful winner in bumpers and took well to hurdling when making a successful start in 12-runner Wincanton maiden 16 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 112-291

The Cistercian²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 121| BF| D

7/2

Left his Irish form behind to make a winning start for Stuart Edmunds in 2m Leicester maiden hurdle on heavy in December. Backed that up when third under a penalty at Haydock but was running below form when unseating his rider last at Fontwell latest. Needs to bounce back.

Form: U63-13U

Grand Teton

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

10/1

€100,000 3-y-o, Walk In The Park gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including useful hurdler/chaser Roaring Bull and fairly useful hurdle winner/useful chaser Latitude. Very interesting newcomer for top stable but Ionian seemingly the stable's first string on jockey bookings.

Form:

Ionian^h1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

6/1

Unplaced on sole start in Irish point but he was a short-priced favourite on that occasion and shaped better than the distance beaten suggests (raced too freely) when sixth of 11 in a Kempton novice (2m) on Rules debut last month. Should benefit from a first-time hood and will surely improve.

Form: 6-6

Wispit Twob⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley

22/1

Built on the promise she seemed set to show on debut when second of 12 in juvenile hurdle (100/1) at Cork (17.3f, soft) 69 days ago. Subsequently sold out of Denis Hogan's stable for £26,000.

Form: F2

Forecasts

Crackerjacque (13/8), Sinchi Roca (16/5), The Cistercian (7/2), Ionian (6/1), Grand Teton (10/1), Wispit Twob (22/1)

SINCHI ROCA made a smooth transition to hurdling when accounting for a well-backed favourite at Wincanton 16 days ago and looks up to defying a penalty. Nicky Henderson saddles a couple of interesting runners in Ionian and Grand Teton. The former shaped better than the distance beaten suggests on his Rules debut at Kempton and has scope for plenty of improvement if the first-time hood has a positive effect, while the latter is bred to make a useful jumper and needs a close look in the betting.