Clive Richards 65th Birthday Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 23.65s

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Selected odds by:

Born Naughty⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jamie Snowden

33/1

Eventually finished well beaten on her debut in a bumper two months ago. Related to a couple of useful Flat horses and interesting to see how he fares here.

Form:

Deebaj¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: R J Price| OR: 111

6/1

Remains a maiden after 13 outings (including ten over hurdles) and ran respectably when highly tried in a listed novice hurdle at Kempton in October. Well held again in a novice event at Ascot last time out but has his sights lowered considerably here.

Form:

Flemcara²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: Miss E C Lavelle

11/8

Stepped up on his bumper debut when finished runner-up to an impressive odds-on winner at Fontwell last month. That probably wasn't the strongest of races but he hails from an in form yard (3/9 of late) and has to be respected here.

Form:

Hogan's Height¹³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Jamie Snowden

14/1

Placed in two point-to-points but eventually finished well beaten in a hood (left off here) when attempting to make all on his debut in a bumper for this yard. He remains of interest on his hurdling debut.

Form:

King Uther²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

5/2

Finished behind Flemcara on soft ground at Fontwell last time out and appeared to be inconvenienced by the heavy ground the time before. Sole win came in a bumper in February 2016 and he may prefer better ground than he'll encounter here.

Form:

Positively Dylan²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

4/1

Ran well to finish runner-up in a listed bumper at Newbury 13 months ago but has failed to repeat that effort over hurdles, disappointing in the main but drops in trip here.

Form:

Full Of Mischief¹⁰²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe

66/1

Signs of promise on her bumper debut in Ireland in November 2013 but had just three runs since and now on her third trainer. Best watched on first run since May 2014.

Form:

The Golden Hour¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: W Featherstone⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison

66/1

Runner-up in a point-to-point in February 2015 and ran well on bumper debut in May of that year. Well held in two hurdle efforts so far however and likely to be seen to better effect in handicaps.

Form:

Forecasts

Flemcara (11/8), King Uther (5/2), Positively Dylan (4/1), Deebaj (6/1), Hogan's Height (14/1), Born Naughty (33/1), The Golden Hour (66/1), Full Of Mischief (66/1)

A chance is taken on POSITIVELY DYLAN reproducing his solid bumper form dropped in trip here under his regular jockey. The selection ran well enough in a listed bumper at Newbury last season to suggest he can take a race of this nature and with his yard going well at present (5/31 in recent weeks) he can take this at the expense of Fontwell runner-up Flemcara who finished fifth in a bumper on his rules debut two starts and Hogan's Height who ran well in a couple of point-to-point's and ran well for a long way on his debut for this stable in a bumper in January.