Walters Group Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 33.0s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Clondaw Ace²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan

33/1

Point-to-point winner back in January but no more than a modicum of ability shown in two hurdles starts so far. Possible this slower ground may help but yard appear to have a better contender in Shaman Du Berlais for this.

Form: 5/F19-65

Financial Outcome^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: Miss R Curtis

3/1

Dual point-to-point winner that made a perfectly good start over hurdles when third to the potentially useful Danny Whizzbang at Hereford last month. Drop back in trip not necessarily a positive but that form entitles him to plenty of respect here.

Form: U/U811-3

Lamanver Pippin³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

7/1

Good effort in a Wincanton bumper when second to Unwin VC back in April, and probably ran too badly to be true when tailed off on hurdles debut at Exeter last month. Only sent off 7-1 there, so thought capable of better. One to keep an eye on.

Form: 2-0

Minella Examiner²⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex

5/2

£75,000 purchase at Aintree sales this April after finishing second in only point-to-point in March. Has joined a good yard and market will us what's expected on hurdles debut today.

Form: 2-

Shaman Du Berlais^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

10/3

Sent off 100-1 at Chepstow on latest start but almost upset the applecart, beaten less than a length by two useful sorts. Soft ground clearly no issue and a repeat of that would make him the one to beat here,

Form: U2U3-73

The Lion Roars³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

50/1

Pedigree a mix of Flat speed and stamina, so possible this step up in trip will help but it will need to as he's not shown much in his two starts so far. Will do better at some point, but probably not today.

Form: 38

Wee Saxon^t1²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard

4/1

Won and then finished second in two point-to-points before joining this yard, ran respectably in a race that's working out very well at Chepstow and addition of a tongue-tie today may help. Place chances.

Form: 12/8

Forecasts

Minella Examiner (5/2), Financial Outcome (3/1), Shaman Du Berlais (10/3), Wee Saxon (4/1), Lamanver Pippin (7/1), Clondaw Ace (33/1), The Lion Roars (50/1)

There's some potential improvers in here, with the likes of Wee Saxon and Lamanver Pippin heading up that list, but this may concern Financial Outcome and SHAMAN DU BERLAIS on what we know so far. Both ran well on their latest starts and will improve again, but the Tim Vaughan inmate is given the chance to show his close 100-1 third at Chepstow last time was no fluke.