Be Wiser Insurance Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 5m 5.7s

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Selected odds by:

Strong Pursuit⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 139

11/4

Struggled upped to Grade 2 company last time in hat-trick bid but every chance dropped back down in class in conditions he's proven in. Should make a bold bid from the front.

Form: F31/6

Coastal Tiep²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

11/8

Decent runner-up effort on return at Kempton last month but winner of that race was disappointing next time out. Didn't look as effective on his sole start on softer ground so the forecast conditions looks slightly worrying and he wouldn't be one to take too short a price about against some hardened rivals.

Form: 111423

Reigning Supreme⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D J Mullins| T: N J Henderson

7/4

Looked a very exciting prospect when winning a novices' hurdle over C&D in November but bitterly disappointing at Leicester when he was an even money favourite last time. Been given plenty of time to recover from that and it may have been a combination of the run coming too soon and tackling heavy ground for the first time. Respected back here and the fact David Mullins turns up for his only ride of the afternoon looks interesting.

Form: F2-1

The Poodle Faker⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Morrison

100/1

His arrival here looks like a shrewd bit of placement in an attempt to land some minor prize money rather than a realistic stab at the prize and he has plenty to find on form.

Form: 6/P545-4

Forecasts

Coastal Tiep (11/8), Reigning Supreme (7/4), Strong Pursuit (11/4), The Poodle Faker (100/1)

REIGNING SUPREME won over C&D here in November and he looked a classy sort that day. He can be forgiven one poor run in conditions that may have been too extreme last time and he's been given ample time to recover. Strong Pursuit will be a tough nut to crack from the front though and his rivals wouldn't want to give the Champion Jockey too much rope while Coastel Tiep has been impressive in his career to date but there has to be a slight concern over tackling softer ground again.