32Red.com Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 6m 12.2s

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Selected odds by:

Bailarico^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

9/1

Former point-to-point winner won all five flat starts for this yard in the summer. Gets a 6lb penalty here for a walkover at Leicester. Jumping not always fluent since when third of four at the same venue and remains vulnerable with the extra 6lb.

Form: 9551-13

Lomachenko¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson

9/4

Much improved in third start, second over hurdles when a comfortable winner at Leicester (2m4½f) last month despite a last flight error. Carries a penalty for that but little doubt there will be more to come for last year's winning yard.

Form: 841

Browndodd²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

25/1

Beaten 12½L into fourth on hurdles debut at Haydock over 2m7f. No obvious progress when a remote eighth at Exeter next time out on bottomless ground. Better than that and has a good pedigree and top yard in his favour.

Form: 648

Ector^p1²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Hicks⁽¹⁰⁾| T: W Greatrex

100/1

Three starts to date and beaten 30L, 67L and 76L respectively in them. Even more remote than the well beaten Browndodd last time so best watched as obvious stable second string.

Form: 090

Larkbarrow Lad^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

8/11

Placed in five of his six starts to date including two seconds in as many starts over hurdles with a narrow defeat at Huntingdon followed by a more comfortable one at Ascot. Up in trip but should stay and leading claims here.

Form: 332-422

Mister Tickle⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: Martin Smith

16/1

Winner of a four-year-old maiden point-to-point cost £35,000 at auction subsequently. In the could be anything category here but overall form of that race only fair so likely battle for a place.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Larkbarrow Lad (8/11), Lomachenko (9/4), Bailarico (9/1), Mister Tickle (16/1), Browndodd (25/1), Ector (100/1)

There was plenty to like about LOMACHENKO's success at Leicester despite the fact that he probably didn't beat a great deal and he represents Nicky Henderson who won this with smart subsequent Grade Two winner Chef Des Obeaux last season. The obvious danger is Larkbarrow Lad especially in receipt of 6lb from the selection and after two seconds Philip Hobbs' charge looks assured to make another bold bid. It is hard to gauge Mister Tickle who won his only point-to-point but he could prove a smart recruit.