Betfred EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 14.8s

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Selected odds by:

Blottos²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 122| C

7/4

Didn't have the ideal start to his hurdling career (fell), but has kicked on, and was a winner over 2m1f (soft) here in December. Penalised, but has run well since over this longer trip at Catterick, so holds every chance.

Form: 376-F12

Aaron Lad¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117

2/1

Taken a while to get his act together since switched to this trainer, but took a step in the right direction at Doncaster latest (2m5f soft), and should be competitive on the pick of his Irish form for Kieran Purcell.

Form: 022-FP3

It's Your Move³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 113

4/1

£50,000 purchase who hasn't lived up to expectations just yet, and is on the verge of becoming disappointing. Beaten 9L by a couple of stronger rivals over C&D on Boxing Day, he might prove better suited when switching to fences.

Form: 33-3343

Just Bobby³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond

10/1

Recorded a trio of similar efforts in bumpers (has course experience), but didn't look to be improving all that much with experience. Well beaten on hurdles debut at Wetherby over Christmas (sixth), but in a race that was stronger than this contest.

Form: 3-246

King's Reste^h1,t²⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

15/2

Not seen in action since a low-key debut at Warwick in May (bumper), this mare tackles hurdles for the first-time now wearing a hood. A half-sister to four winners including J'y Vole, she should progress with time and experience.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Blottos (7/4), Aaron Lad (2/1), It's Your Move (4/1), King's Reste (15/2), Just Bobby (10/1)

BLOTTOS has a penalty to carry for his 1¾L course success (2m1f) in December, but stamina appeared his strength on that occasion, and he ran well over this trip next time at Catterick at level weights with the 130-rated Dieg Man. With It's Your Move continuing to perform below expectations, his main threat comes from the Richard Newland trained Aaron Lad. He hasn't fully convinced since switched to these shores from Ireland, but appeared to be headed slowly in the right direction at Doncaster latest (maiden hurdle).