Northumberland County Show Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 5m 14.60s

Passing Diamond¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 106| C

5/6

Produced a performance more in keeping with his fair bumper form when landing a gamble in 9-runner novice (2m) at this course 17 days ago, kept up to work. Should be fully effective back over this longer trip but is likely to need more under a penalty.

Form: 43633-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bold Step¹³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

1/1

6-y-o who shaped promisingly when second of 11 in a bumper at Exeter on debut in January. This Scorpion gelding looks an interesting prospect now going over hurdles.

Form: 2-

Rachel Lopez¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: W Coltherd

18/1

Showed more than she had in points or in a bumper for Edward Power when second of 6 in 2m novice hurdle at this course (2m, soft, 40/1) 10 days ago. Bred to be suited by the longer trip but it remains to be seen whether she's able to build on that.

Form: 33PP82

Non-Runners

Coniston Commander⁵⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: N G Richards J: Danny McMenamin

Mister St Eloi⁴⁴³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: O Murphy J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Passing Diamond (5/6), Bold Step (1/1), Mister St Eloi (9/4), Coniston Commander (10/1), Rachel Lopez (18/1)

MISTER ST ELOI has joined top connections for a 6-figure sum after finishing runner-up on his completed outing in Irish points and this looks a reasonably good opportunity for him to get his Rules career off to the perfect start. Bold Step has some off-putting elements of temperament on both sides of his pedigree but is in top hands and showed promise when finding only one too good in an Exeter bumper on his debut in January. Passing Diamond will likely need to step up again under a penalty.