Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 27.1s

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Selected odds by:

Serosevsky^t⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 124| D

1/4

Exeter winner and beaten by a J P McManus hotpot at Warwick. Capable amateur offsets the penalty and his BHA rating of 124 sets the standard.

Form: 1555-12

Whitley Neill^t⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 122| DWS

9/2

Caused an upset at Exeter in April and then failed to follow up that effort under a penalty when hanging badly from two out. Has had wind surgery since and stable have had a couple of winners in the last few days.

Form: 60/1-4

Damier²²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis

25/1

Young gelding by Network who fell early on sole point-to-point start. Dam is an unraced mare from a French cross-country chase winning family.

Form:

Spicy Fruity¹⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Miss L J Cabble| OR: 105

12/1

Had some modest form in Ireland three years ago and had a spin at Chaddesley Corbett three months ago when making most until two out. Intriguing jockey booking.

Form: 3236P/2

Non-Runners

Set List¹⁰⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Serosevsky (1/4), Set List (2/1), Whitley Neill (9/2), Spicy Fruity (12/1), Damier (25/1)

There could be a shock on the cards if Spicy Fruity is granted an easy lead as there are doubts about his main rivals. Set List has to be respected given his connections but the trip and track look too sharp. Whitley Neill beat a disappointing sort at Exeter and has had wind surgery since a dismal effort next time. SEROSEVSKY may want a slightly stiffer test given he has won at Exeter but he probably has less to prove than the rest of this lineup and the prospect of a pacemaker to aim at may help him improve further still.