RF Miller & Co Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 5m 26.06s

Loch Cuan³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| CD

30/100

Soundly beaten in a Down Royal bumper on Boxing Day but hasn't looked back since switching to hurdles, runner-up in maidens at Navan (2m, heavy) and Downpatrick (2¾m, good) prior to opening account in 10-runner novice over C&D. Open to further improvement and much respected under a penalty.

Form: 02-21

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God Help Me²⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: N C Kelly

9/2

Offered something to work on when fourth of 18 at Navan (2m) on hurdling debut in March 2025. Well held both starts since however, including back in this sphere on first outing for current yard at aforementioned track in September.

Form: 2749/0-

Tribal Moon¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr D McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: N C Kelly

17/2

Fairly useful Flat winner who shaped better than first time up over hurdles when seventh of 12 in maiden at Downpatrick (2¾m, good to firm) 12 days ago. Flat form provides hope for better still and he must enter calculations.

Form: 0-7

Dream Racer⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: James Davies| T: G Hanmer

40/1

£6,000 4-y-o, Affinisea filly. Dam, lightly raced over hurdles, half-sister to smart hurdler/fairly useful chase winner (stayed 3m) Jennies Jewel out of useful 2m-2¾m hurdle winner Fishin Joella. Third sole start in Irish points (May 10) and can't be dismissed on Rules debut.

Form: 3

Manhatane⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Leah Noreci⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt

33/1

€6,500 3-y-o, Bathyrhon filly. Dam, lightly raced over hurdles in France, half-sister to smart hurdler/top-class chaser (stayed 25f) Fastorslow out of French hurdler/chaser (winner up to 19f) Popova. Unpromising in points but has joined a yard that does very well at this track.

Form: 4-P

Non-Runners

Drumconnor Hill³¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: C Collins J: Danny Gilligan

Forecasts

Loch Cuan (30/100), God Help Me (9/2), Drumconnor Hill (9/2), Tribal Moon (17/2), Manhatane (33/1), Dream Racer (40/1)

LOCH CUAN is progressing well over hurdles and is taken to defy a penalty, perhaps at the expense of Tribal Moon, whose Flat form provides hope for better still in this sphere. Drumconnor Hill promises to be suited by the step up in trip and shouldn't be taken lightly, either.