Weatherbys Racing Bank 'The French Furze' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:02 | Winning time: 5m 35.7s

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Selected odds by:

Monty's Award^h³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 121

7/1

Has clearly drawn some considerable benefit from wind surgery, looking a stout stayer when justifying favouritism at Worcester (2m4f, good) in October, beating dual previous scorer Commodore Barry; that said, this is a sterner test under a penalty.

Form: 305P-21

Beakstown^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

11/10

Joined Team Skelton out of the Irish PTP scene (3m Turtulla winner); runner-up in a bumper in February, but off the mark at the first time of asking over hurdles (2m4f Uttoxeter maiden, good) when gamely out-battling Southern Sam.

Form: 12-1

Informateur²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 120

8/1

On a gradual upward curve in modest northern novice contests; landed the odds by 5L from Mance Rayder despite idling at Sedgefield (2m5f, good) earlier this month; deserves a crack at this stronger race.

Form: 283-21

Windsor Avenue²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Ellison| OR: 122

11/4

Well regarded by his trainer and now 3-4 for the yard since being bought for £65,000 in December 2017; lost little in defeat to Al Dancer on hurdles debut at Carlisle (2m1f), before a silky, smooth short odds Hexham (2m4f, good) win.

Form: P/111-21

Ask Ben²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

50/1

Bought for £30,000 at Cheltenham in May; makes his rules/hurdles debut for new trainer Graeme McPherson; 2½L runner-up to Wednesday's Hereford winner Danny Whizzbang (now with Paul Nicholls) in a 3m Ballysteen maiden point in April.

Form: 52-

Lord Du Mesnil^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: R Hobson| OR: 120

8/1

12-race maiden, mainly over fences in France, although did also fail to complete on his first two starts for this trainer; switched back to hurdles at Uttoxeter recently (2m4f) when finishing 15L fifth to today's rival Beakstown; unlikely.

Form: F33-FU5

Forecasts

Beakstown (11/10), Windsor Avenue (11/4), Monty's Award (7/1), Lord Du Mesnil (8/1), Informateur (8/1), Ask Ben (50/1)

Probably not the most competitive French Furze in recent memory but an ideal opportunity for one of these mainly upwardly mobile youngsters to take a step up in grade and have a crack at a valuable prize. Wind surgery has brought out the best in Monty's Award and he almost certainly won't fail for stamina after a game Worcester win in October, with similar comments also applying to the Skelton-trained runner Beakstown. However, this prize stayed up north with Coole Hall (Rose Dobbin) in 2017 and locally born Brian Ellison has an ideal candidate in the shape of WINDSOR AVENUE who created a striking impression when a silky, smooth short odds winner at Hexham 22 days ago.