Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 5m 1.75s

Etna Bianco^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard| OR: 127

3/1

£140,000 Irish point winner who showed benefit of hurdles debut when successful in 5-runner novice at Ascot in November. Found out in Grade 1 company at Newbury and tongue tied, he didn't fare much better back in a novice a month ago.

Form: 13-3154

Home Made Hero¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M NichollsWS

9/2

Successful pointer who got Rules career off to impressive start when a ready winner of 9-runner novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, soft) in October, justifying support. Set to finish second but for a late fall at Leicester a month later and he can be a factor on the back of a breathing operation.

Form: 2P/1-1F

Soomaroy⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 121

6/5

£190,000 purchase after scoring in points. Promise despite failing to land the odds on hurdles debut in November and made no mistake at Hereford 5 weeks later. Can only improve for this longer trip so major claims of following up.

Form: 1-21

Tiddesley Wood^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121

7/2

Built on hurdling debut promise when bagging 9-runner novice hurdle at Windsor (2½m, good to soft) in November. Progress has rather stalled since, faring about as well as could be expected when fourth of 6 in listed company last month.

Form: 36-3134

Fury Lad⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe

250/1

Runner-up on second of 2 starts in Irish points but has shown little under Rules to date. Will be better off in handicaps.

Form: P26/PP

Forecasts

Soomaroy (6/5), Etna Bianco (3/1), Tiddesley Wood (7/2), Home Made Hero (9/2), Fury Lad (250/1)

Four of the 5 have won a race and have each achieved similar form so far but SOOMAROY is surely open to further progress, particularly over this sort of trip, so he receives the vote. Home Made Hero has been off since falling in the autumn but he's in good hands and looks the chief threat.