Dumenil Champagne 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 7.4s

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Selected odds by:

Azzerti²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 132

2/5

Has been running well over hurdles so far this season and has finished runner-up to Cheltenham Festival prospects in a couple of those outings. Winner at Towcester on his penultimate outing and likely to prove hard to beat for a trainer with a 19% strike rate (4/21) recently.

Form: 44-231

Benechenko²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

7/1

Point-to-point winner who made a successful rules debut in a bumper at Uttoxeter in November. Has disappointed twice since however but remains of interest as he embarks on a hurdling career here.

Form: 11584

Celma Des Bois⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe

66/1

Ran well in a couple of point-to-points and a pair of bumpers in Ireland but always behind prior to pulling up on his debut for this yard on his return from a seven month absence at Newbury last month and likely best watched at present.

Form: 735P87-

Church Leap⁴⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: P R Chamings

9/1

Bumper winner on the AW surface at Lingfield in January 2015 but had just four starts since and well held fourth on latest of those at Newbury in December of that year. Returns from a 15 month absence here.

Form: 163/54-6

Coudefoudre³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams

50/1

Pulled up on both outings so far including at Hereford last time out. Likely to fair better in handicap company.

Form: P

Legal Ok¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: S Edmunds

20/1

Gifted an easy lead and made all when winning a point-to-point at Dromahane in November but well held on debut for this yard in a Doncaster bumper when wearing a tongue tie (left off here). Likely to fair better in time.

Form: 4-183

My Boy James¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Aspell| T: Mrs L J Mongan

11/2

Registered his best result so far when finishing a 5L second at Lingfield on heavy ground in a maiden hurdle last month. Interesting to see if he can repeat that effort in this.

Form: 35

Two Hoots¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P F Nicholls

10/1

Weakened two from home having been hampered in a maiden event at Chepstow over an extended 2m3f last time out. Best effort so far came in a bumper over 2m and this drop in trip looks likely to suit.

Form: 35850

Forecasts

Azzerti (2/5), My Boy James (11/2), Benechenko (7/1), Church Leap (9/1), Two Hoots (10/1), Legal Ok (20/1), Coudefoudre (50/1), Celma Des Bois (66/1)

The penalised AZZERTI brings the strongest form into this race and looks the most likely winner here. The selection had some consistent horses in behind him when winning at Towcester and can get the better of My Boy James who can follow up his solid effort last time out by taking second here with the well connected Two Hoots taken to finish third for his leading trainer.