Hook Polo Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 1m 7f 171y | 9 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: K Brogan| T: L Horsfall| OR: 111

Made the frame all 3 completed starts in Irish points and likewise in a trio of runs over hurdles, most recently finishing a solid third of 14 on handicap debut at Catterick (19.3f, good). This drop back in trip shouldn't be an issue and he's not without an each-way chance.

Form: 25-7233

Alidam^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 104

Fair form when placed on 3 of 4 hurdle starts in France but has shown very little in a couple of appearances for new connections.

Form: 3-03P0

Eastern Shores^h,t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 103

£70,000 purchase after winning an Irish point in 2024 and has taken steps forward with each of her 4 starts in novice company, finishing third of 7 to the progressive Ninna Collina at Catterick (15.7f, good) last time. Will be a threat now handicapping granted a strong pace to aim at.

Form: 3-46733

Bushstreet Bowman²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 99

Little to shout about in a bumper/3 starts in novice hurdles but he's in good hands and it will look significant if the market speak in his favour now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 8F07

Westlain^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Jack Jones| OR: 109

Fair maiden on the Flat who, fitted with a hood, left his hurdles debut form behind when springing a 66/1 surprise in juvenile at Fontwell (17.7f, good to soft) in November. Respectable enough display when fifth of 14 back there for handicap bow last time but others preferred all the same.

Form: 0175

Lunar Orbit^h⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: W Greatrex| OR: 108

Fairly useful maiden on the Flat and got the job done at the fourth time of asking over hurdles in a Market Rasen juvenile event (16.6f, good to soft) following a wind op in December. Market for handicap debut in this sphere looks fair and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 2P31

Dissident^h²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R T Dunne| T: G & J Moore| OR: 103

Regressive on the Flat and while he responded well to the first-time blinkers added when bagging a Doncaster juvenile on second hurdles start, there wasn't much to shout about at Kempton next time. Improvement needed on handicap bow in this sphere.

Form: 315

Celine Man⁶⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 75WS

Showed nothing in a couple of runs for Henrietta Knight in 2024 (has undergone a wind operation in the interim) and this looks a tough ask from 9 lb out of the handicap on reappearance/stable debut.

Form: 9002PP/

Non-Runners

Golden Falls²¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: L Wadham J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Lunar Orbit (3/1), Bushstreet Bowman (4/1), Escort'kheops (9/2), Dissident (9/2), Eastern Shores (5/1), Golden Falls (12/1), Alidam (12/1), Westlain (12/1), Celine Man (25/1)

EASTERN SHORES shaped as though crying out for 2½m+ when putting in good late work to finish third at Catterick last time but, likely to benefit from more of an end-to-end gallop now switched to handicap company, she could be the answer. Lunar Orbit is a much-respected main danger on the back of breakthrough success in this sphere at Market Rasen, while Bushstreet Bowman will be of interest if the market speaks in his favour now handicapping.