Book Your Christmas Party Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 5m 5.38s

Holy Joe³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 115

6/4

Sent off 25/1 but much improved to get off at the mark at the third attempt in 15-runner novice hurdle at Clonmel (17f) last month. Runner-up has gone in since so this Irish raider rates a player stepping back up in trip.

Form: 6-U1

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L'amalric²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 114

1/1

Ready hurdling debut success in 2m novice at Worcester in May and backed it up with a good third of 6 under a 7 lb penalty in 2m Uttoxeter novice (form franked) 29 days ago. Has more to offer stepping up in distance. Big shout.

Form: P/FP3-13

Dolly Dior²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: P Neville| D

15/2

Greatly improved on her hurdling debut when 50/1 winner of 10-runner novice at Hexham (2½m) 21 days ago. This demands another sizeable step forward though.

Form: 57-41

Moi Mon Vieux^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Paul O'Brien| T: R Hobson

9/1

Runner-up in 1½m bumper at La Roche-Sur-Yon in April and tongue strap applied when second of 6 in another bumper at Southwell (2m) last month. Goes up in trip for his hurdles debut and no forlorn hope.

Form: 2

Fortunes Dawn²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: W Young Jnr

250/1

Well held in a pair of maiden hurdles at Cartmel and Hexham this summer.

Form: P354-79

Forecasts

L'amalric (1/1), Holy Joe (6/4), Dolly Dior (15/2), Moi Mon Vieux (9/1), Fortunes Dawn (250/1)

Olly Murphy's L'AMALRIC has made a bright start to his hurdling career and is fancied to quickly resume winning ways on the back of a good Uttoxeter third (form franked) with this step up in trip rating a plus. Gordon Elliott's Holy Joe should also be suited by going back up in distance and rates a major threat though.