Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 4m 59.7s

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Selected odds by:

Anemoi³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 135

9/2

Has made an encouraging start to life over hurdles with two wins. Followed up his Ascot win with a comfortable success at Doncaster last time and while there's room to improve in the jumping department, it's still early days; expected to go well.

Form: 15-11

Darlac²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139

8/1

In behind Coolanly here in a Grade 2 at the Open Meeting and took a step forward from that when runner-up at Sandown last time on soft ground. Could well go on improving here.

Form: 5/27-142

I Can't Explain²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

5/6

Very impressive at Sandown on Rules debut and the third from that race has franked the form subsequently. Interesting connections drop him straight into the deep end here and he's a fascinating contender with the step up in trip sure to suit.

Form: 1-1

Jarveys Plate¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126

12/1

Well backed when winning his bumper at Perth on Rules debut. Hasn't looked particularly fluent over hurdles on his two starts but expected to get the hang of things sooner rather than later.

Form: 231-32

Mr Pumblechook¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 133

9/1

Showed promise in both his first couple of starts over hurdles and didn't need to improve to win at Plumpton last time in a maiden hurdle. Dropped in at the deep end here though and has different ground conditions to cope with.

Form: 66-321

Rocco¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

22/1

Won a novice event on seasonal return at Chepstow and has run okay in a couple of subsequent starts at this venue without really threatening to get his head in front. Not certain to be suited by the drop back in trip here.

Form: 29-1453

Supremely Lucky¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

25/1

Winner on Rules debut in a bumper at Chepstow and while he was in behind Rocco at Chepstow next time out, he improved to win at Southwell last month. Not disgraced in a Grade 2 here last time and respected back down in class.

Form: P/21-414

Non-Runners

Coolanly³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: C Brace

Forecasts

I Can't Explain (5/6), Anemoi (9/2), Darlac (8/1), Mr Pumblechook (9/1), Jarveys Plate (12/1), Coolanly (12/1), Rocco (22/1), Supremely Lucky (25/1)

It's interesting that I CAN'T EXPLAIN is thrown in at the deep end here on just his second start after an impressive debut and he looks like a fascinating contender for a yard that have had four winners from their last seven runners. Jarveys Plate and Anemoi have room to improve in the jumping department and are expected to do so while Coolanly can't be disregarded, having already proven himself at this level.