What The Frunk: The Geely EX2 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 3m 54.90s

King's Scholar^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Hutsby⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 123| D

10/3

Bordering on useful up to 1¾m on Flat for Ed Walker and showed the benefit of his initial experience over hurdles in a first-time tongue strap when readily landing 2m maiden at Southwell in May. Made hard work of defying a penalty at Worcester but retains plenty of potential with 10-lb claimer up.

Form: 4-11

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Pioneer Pete⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| D

30/100

Justified support in a 2m Wetherby maiden in late March prior to finding only one too good in a highly competitive Punchestown handicap (2m). Overcame a mixed round of jumping to land the odds back in novice company at Worcester (2m) in June and has leading claims once more.

Form: 24312-1

Tazman Dan¹⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds

18/1

Showed more than on debut when fifth of 8 in a heavy-ground Wexford bumper in March. Failed to repeat that effort under less testing conditions at Cork, though. Off 5 months ahead of this switch to hurdling for new yard (formerly trained by P. Kiely).

Form: 657-

Bailey's Luck^h⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: C Hobson

300/1

Well held on his only outing on the Flat and has shown no promise either start over hurdles.

Form: P0

Don't Rein Me In¹⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour

50/1

Placed once from 3 starts in bumpers but the form is no better than modest and was in need of the experience sent hurdling at Exeter in March. Looks one for handicaps later on.

Form: 2047-

Northwest Passage²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: William Shanahan⁽⁵⁾| T: I Furtado

11/1

Fairly useful winner at 1¼m on the Flat. Just minor promise in a pair of hurdle starts last winter and, whilst he remains capable of better, is possibly more one for handicaps after this run.

Form: 75-

Non-Runners

Gambino⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Pioneer Pete (30/100), Gambino (15/8), King's Scholar (10/3), Northwest Passage (11/1), Tazman Dan (18/1), Don't Rein Me In (50/1), Bailey's Luck (300/1)

PIONEER PETE, King's Scholar and Gambino all shoulder double penalties, but the first-named runner has achieved easily the most to date and is hard to oppose. The switch to conventional hurdles is a likely plus for King's Scholar given he hasn't looked the most natural in the jumping department and he's feared most.