Julie Satterley Waving Goodbye To 49 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:51 | Winning time: 4m 34.47s

Machete Beach²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 108

13/8

Fairly useful Flat performer, scoring twice over 1½m for Harry Charlton in 2024. Offered plenty to work on switched to hurdling when third of 8 at Plumpton (2m) last May and made the most of a good opportunity at Hereford a year on. Not yet the finished article and the type to go on improving.

Form: 3-1

Ja Klipdrift

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: T R Gretton

150/1

Lucky Lion gelding. Dam, 7f/1m winner abroad, sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 19f) Jan Maat. 1 of 2 newcomers for the yard.

Form:

Maskarvel¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 110

4/6

Showed fair form when in the frame all 3 outings in Irish bumpers (for David Harry Kelly) and stepped up appreciably on his hurdling debut when second of 7 in 2m Huntingdon maiden in early March. Ran at least as well when filling same spot at Aintree and sets the standard.

Form: 24252-2

Usyk²⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

10/1

Showed fair form on the first 2 of 3 starts in bumpers last summer and bred to be suited by this longer trip on hurdling debut.

Form: 426-

At Sunrise^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: D Weston

200/1

Well held in 2 bumpers/completed start over hurdles.

Form: 9/7P-4

Take The Boat¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: G Nicholls| BF

20/1

Fair performer at up to 1¾m on the Flat. Likely to be competitive if transferring that form to hurdling at the first attempt.

Form:

Non-Runners

La Fille Friday

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: T R Gretton J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Maskarvel (4/6), Machete Beach (13/8), Usyk (10/1), Take The Boat (20/1), La Fille Friday (33/1), Ja Klipdrift (150/1), At Sunrise (200/1)

MASKARVEL was unlucky to bump into a promising sort for the time of year at Aintree earlier in the month and a reproduction of that form may well suffice, especially in receipt of 7 lb from his chief form rival Machete Beach, who should have more to offer in this sphere considering the above-average level he achieved in just a handful of runs on the Flat. Usyk showed some promise in bumpers last summer and shouldn't be overlooked with the longer trip sure to suit now hurdling.