Racing To School Reaches 25 Years Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 6m 0.28s

Country Park^p⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120| BF| D

2/1

Still a maiden after 10 hurdle starts but is fairly useful. Looked to be going well in the lead when falling 3 out at Sedgefield (17f) on Boxing Day. Given a bit of time since. Leading form claims if stamina holds up in trip (unproven beyond an extended 21f) in refitted cheekpieces.

Form: F24F-3F

Fairye Forth³⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| D

9/2

£33,000 Irish point winner. Last seen in that sphere a year ago so it's taken a bit of time for new connections to get him to the track but Sean Bowen is a good booking.

Form: 2314-

Jonny Setaside¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis

8/1

Better effort in maiden hurdles when just under 15 lengths fourth of 7 over C&D (good to soft) 18 days ago. Will need to take another step forward if he's to go close here.

Form: 74

Royal Rocket¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle

22/1

12/1, weakened to finish sixth of 8 in a 2m course bumper on debut 18 days ago. Steps up significantly in trip quickly switched to hurdles.

Form: 6

Tobyshill^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: Nick Scholfield| D

7/1

£85,000 purchase from the Irish pointing field. Much better effort over hurdles (trained by Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies on debut) when third of 8 in 20.5f Market Rasen maiden 18 days ago, no extra only close home despite not being fluent with his jumping. Open to improvement.

Form: 153

Equity Release¹⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Price| T: J L Flint

300/1

No more than hinted at ability in a pair of Huntingdon bumpers for Shaun Lycett last autumn. Left that yard after finishing tailed off in an AW Flat maiden in December. New stable steps him up markedly in trip for hurdle debut.

Form: 56

Seven Kites³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| D

15/8

Landed odds of 4/5 in a 3m Larkhill maiden point at the beginning of March. Interesting hurdle newcomer, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Seven Kites (15/8), Country Park (2/1), Fairye Forth (9/2), Tobyshill (7/1), Jonny Setaside (8/1), Royal Rocket (22/1), Equity Release (300/1)

TOBYSHILL shaped quite well on his recent first outing for Nick Scholfield and might be able to improve past Country Park, who sets the standard but has had quite a few chances. Money for recent point debut scorer Seven Kites would also bring him firmly into the reckoning.