Welcome To 82 Communications Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 5m 30.39s

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Selected odds by:

Bafana Blue¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes

9/2

Outpaced at the business end of the race, but probably improved slightly (stable debut) to finish 11+L third to Nemean Lion in a 2m3f+ novice hurdles at Sedgefield last month. Softer ground today, but down slightly in grade.

Form: 68P-3

Cash Again¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 119

6/4

Never quite progressed from his 9L second to Jenkins in a Newbury bumper for previous trainer Paul Nicholls. But with less taxing opposition and winning soft ground form in France to offer, should be thereabouts on his first start for a new trainer.

Form: 12/4430-

Forth Cave⁴⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J E Foster

50/1

Arrives for his UK debut after a couple of quickfire runs in Irish Point-to-Points (May and June 2016). His dam was an unraced sister to 2m2f to 2m6f hurdles winner Emmet, but a minor role at best is expected on stable debut.

Form: 34-

Heart Of Kernow³⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke

11/2

Showed a modicum of promise (at significant odds) in finishing mid division in a Chepstow bumper in November 2016. Off the track since, but this looks a reasonable option in which to reappear for his hurdles debut.

Form: 7-

It's Your Move¹⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: C R King| T: B Ellison

5/2

£50,000 purchase at the Cheltenham Sales in December 2016, and always promised to be the type to improve for both a longer trip and obstacles. With that in mind, he can leave his bumper form behind on ground which should suit.

Form: 333-

Viognier^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: James Corbett⁽⁷⁾| T: S Corbett

14/1

Six race maiden (shown glimmers of ability in bumpers), but got no further than the first when jinking and unseating her rider on her second start over hurdles at Sedgefield last week, so comes with risks attached.

Form: 43743U

Forecasts

Cash Again (6/4), It's Your Move (5/2), Bafana Blue (9/2), Heart Of Kernow (11/2), Viognier (14/1), Forth Cave (50/1)

A couple of these runners make little overall appeal despite admittedly being in early stages of their hurdling careers. Therefore, the focus is upon those with more untapped potential. It's Your Move was a costly purchase at the Cheltenham Sales in December 2016, and he would appear likely to step forward significantly from his bumper efforts now encountering the combination of soft ground, obstacles and a longer trip. However, CASH AGAIN sets a fair standard with an official rating of 119. He has left Paul Nicholls to join Ben Haslam, and will surely appreciate racing in much less competitive events in the North than he has done previously down South.