ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 103y | 6 Runners | Turf

Baron Noir³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 146| D

3/1

Dual bumper scorer who has taken very well to hurdling, landing back-to-back maiden/novice events prior to finishing fourth in last month's Supreme at Cheltenham, impressing with how he went through the race. Ground to make up on Sober Glory on that form but highly likely there's more to come.

Form: 31-2114

Sinnatra^h1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

13/2

Impressive bumper winner who quickly reached a useful level over hurdles, twice justifying cramped odds in novice company before finishing fifth in last month's County Hurdle. Steady pace looked against him then and whilst this is tougher up in grade, he remains with potential. Hood on.

Form: 221315

Sober Glory³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 153| D

8/13

Upwardly-mobile sort who was 3-3 in bumpers. Made a seamless transition to hurdling, an easy winner on 3 of first 4 starts and taking another big step forward when second in last month's Supreme. Shade better than the bare result on that occasion (mistake last) and he's very much the one to beat.

Form: 1-14112

Starting Fifteen^h⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: E McNamara| OR: 136| D

12/1

Irish raider who made the frame all 3 starts in bumpers and confirmed debut promise when bagging a Limerick maiden in December. Not disgraced tackling Grade 1 level for first time at Leopardstown in February but he'll need to pull out a lot more to figure prominently here.

Form: 23-4217

Storming George²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 131

50/1

Useful in bumpers and similar merit over hurdles, proving better than ever to make second handicap start a winning one at Newbury (19f) 3 weeks ago. Did that readily but he will need to step up considerably once more if he's to threaten the principals now tackling Grade 1 company.

Form: 316271

La Conquiere²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132| D

22/1

Useful in bumpers and looked good prospect when winning first 2 starts over hurdles, latterly in listed company. Excellent second in mares Grade 2 at Ascot followed but never threatened when well held in Dawn Run at Cheltenham 4 weeks ago. Minor role looks her best hope.

Form: 22-1120

Forecasts

Sober Glory (4/7), Baron Noir (4/1), Sinnatra (6/1), Starting Fifteen (16/1), La Conquiere (20/1), Storming George (25/1)

It's very hard to oppose prolific scorer SOBER GLORY, who enhanced his form when finishing a fine second in last month's Supreme at Cheltenham, a better jump at the last likely to have made the winner work harder still. He can prove too strong for Baron Noir who finished 2 places behind the selection on that occasion. Sinnatra is another with his best days ahead of him.