Smarkets 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 4m 13.08s

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Selected odds by:

Black Anthem⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: B Barr| OR: 95

20/1

Career record of 0-12 over hurdles and has been pulled up on his last two starts. Hard to make any sort of case for.

Form: 3277PP

Blu Cavalier³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| BF

8/13

Landed a bumper when trained by Alexandra Dunn and has run creditably on all three starts over hurdles for his leading trainer. Has his limitations, but is clearly the one to beat.

Form: 414/244

Cloudy Glen¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

2/1

Had shown little in a bumper and two races over hurdles before producing a much-improved display to be second of 14 in a Warwick novices' hurdle. That run alone would give him a chance, but there must be also be the prospect of further improvement.

Form: 5062

Dont Be Robin²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Shoemark| T: Mrs R Ford

8/1

Outran odds of 100-1 to be third of 14 on his hurdling debut at Taunton, but failed to build on that at Wincanton last time. Obviously possesses some ability, but will probably do better in handicaps.

Form: 4-F3535

Dublin Indemnity^p1⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry LeeWS

25/1

Nicely bred, but has showed nothing in two bumpers. Makes his hurdling debut following wind surgery and in first-time cheekpieces so it will be interesting to see if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 5-P

L'auberge Du Bois⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott

33/1

Signs of ability in a couple of bumpers at Hereford and Kempton. Tries his hand at hurdling and is best watched on this occasion.

Form: 68

Lapford Lad³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

66/1

Little promise in bumpers and hurdles contests, including at Exeter on latest outing. Readily opposed on the evidence so far.

Form: 40P77

Mahler's First⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall

20/1

Not much to shout about in displays in a bumper and two hurdles contests. Needs to show much more before becoming a betting proposition.

Form: 9-4P

Forecasts

Blu Cavalier (8/13), Cloudy Glen (2/1), Dont Be Robin (8/1), Mahler's First (20/1), Black Anthem (20/1), Dublin Indemnity (25/1), L'auberge Du Bois (33/1), Lapford Lad (66/1)

A weak maiden hurdle which should go to BLU CAVALIER. He is not one of his powerful stable's leading lights, but he has done more than enough to suggest a race of this nature is within his compass. Cloudy Glen shaped much better last time and should be able to chase him home, while Don't Be Robin looks the best of the rest. Dublin Indemnity is worth a check in the betting.