Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 10.1s

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Selected odds by:

Bedrock^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

25/1

Fair performer on the Flat at up to 1m2f. Made his debut in a Grade 2 contest when finishing a well beaten fifth at Kempton. Steps up in grade here and looks up against it on what he's achieved so far.

Form: 53-

Defi Du Seuil²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 155

4/11

Unbeaten in six career outings over hurdles including when taking the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Has also won at the highest level at Chepstow this season and looks likely to prove very hard to beat for a stable with a 27% strike-rate recently (9/33).

Form: 111111

Divin Bere²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

7/2

Winner over hurdles at Lyon-Parilly and Huntingdon so far in his career. The most recent of those success came at the latter venue when defeating a useful rival by a neck in January on his debut for this stable. Ran well when beaten by a fast finishing rival in a handicap event at Cheltenham last month and likely to run well here.

Form: 12-212

Flying Tiger²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Nick Williams| OR: 141

6/1

Defeated Divin Bere when in receipt of weight in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Also successful at Newbury in a four runner event and at Compiegne for this stable though has a bit to do on form if he's to defeat the favourite here.

Form: 2P6141

Forth Bridge⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139

7/1

Winner of his last two outings over hurdles defeating Warp Factor on each occasion. The most recent of those efforts came over an extended 1m7f in a Listed event at Musselburgh in early February. Arrives fresh having missed Cheltenham and is an interesting contender.

Form: 211

Landin²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 133

25/1

Winner on the Flat in Germany but a maiden after three outings over hurdles for this stable. Ran ran well when 14L eighth behind Defi Du Seuil in the Triumph Hurdle last month but looks likely to struggle in this.

Form: 3286

Nucky Thompson^h¹⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: R Spencer

50/1

Broke his maiden over hurdles when successful at Warwick over 2m on good ground in November. Pulled up on his only subsequent start in a Grade 2 event won by Defi Du Seuil eight days later and he returns from a near five month absence here.

Form: 41P

Ronnie Baird^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Robert Hawker| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 116

100/1

Winner on the Flat over 1m on heavy ground but a maiden after four outings over hurdles. Beaten 5L in a maiden event at Stratford last month and looks likely to struggle in this company.

Form: -

Forecasts

Defi Du Seuil (4/11), Divin Bere (7/2), Flying Tiger (6/1), Forth Bridge (7/1), Bedrock (25/1), Landin (25/1), Nucky Thompson (50/1), Ronnie Baird (100/1)

Triumph Hurdle winner DEFI DU SEUIL can follow up his Cheltenham success and maintain his unbeaten record by claiming a third Grade 1 victory in this eight runner contest. The selection ran on strongly on that occasion and shouldn't have any problems with the flatter track here. Of the remainder Divin Bere can reverse Cheltenham running with Flying Tiger on a track that is more likely to play to his strengths while Forth Bridge is another to note here.