George Harrow Memorial Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 5m 31.2s

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Selected odds by:

Coole Hall³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 129| C

15/8

Looks like there may be more to come from him after building on his Perth hurdles debut from April with a win here (2m5f, good) on his return last month. Penalised for that today, but front pair were 5L clear and he should give another good account.

Form: 3/12-1

Burlington Bert^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 100

125/1

Dual bumper winner for Warren Greatrex but off the boil in his final start for that trainer and his first two for this one, including here last time when beaten 28L over C&D by Coole Hall. Has plenty to find.

Form: 53/13-75

Call Me¹⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile

100/1

Won an Irish point-to-point in May at the fifth attempt before changing hands for £10,000. Full brother to 2m4f chase winner Jack Steel and 2m5f hurdle winner Ample Appeal. May need this first run although probably a good idea to check market.

Form: PP43-1

Flemens Story¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

12/1

Irish point-to-point winner at the fourth attempt in January. 16-1 and ran well for a long way here over 2m on stable debut last month. Step up in trip looks sure to help and he enters calculations.

Form: R/541-4

Manitowoc County¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison

16/1

Another Irish point-to-point scorer who improved on his Sedgefield rules debut when stepped up in trip at Carlisle last time. Steps up further in distance today and that looks positive and further improvement looks probable back on good ground.

Form: 241-43

Mick's Wish⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tony Kelly| T: Mrs J Stephen

100/1

Not seen after a ½L Irish point-to-point defeat in May 2016 until making his rules debut at Hexham in August. Both that and his latest run at Perth were in bumpers and he should be able to do better now jumping obstacles and over further.

Form: 32-65

Senor Lombardy²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

8/11

Debut Irish point-to-point winner who has begun well enough under rules, being runner-up here in a bumper (good) and winning one at Hexham last time. Nice pedigree which suggests that he could make a good hurdling debut, especially over this trip.

Form: 1-21

Forecasts

Senor Lombardy (8/11), Coole Hall (15/8), Flemens Story (12/1), Manitowoc County (16/1), Call Me (100/1), Mick's Wish (100/1), Burlington Bert (125/1)

Coole Hall looks a likely improver and he is very much respected after his reappearance success, but in receipt of 7lb from that penalised winner, SENOR LOMBARDY is the suggestion. Keith Dalgleish's gelding should appreciate this step up in trip and is related to both hurdles and chase success, so he gets the nod. Flemens Story and Manitowoc County should both be capable of getting involved and Call Me is well worth noting on his rules debut.