Terry Frame Joiners Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 1.3s

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Selected odds by:

Crumbs⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

50/1

Nice introduction in a bumper at Ayr last month, stayed on nicely from the rear late in the day without ever looking a threat. Will know more today and id jumping fluently on debut, would hold place chances.

Form: 7

Get Help⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd

100/1

Very moderate form in point-to-points, with a few non-completions, and faces a near-impossible task on Rules debut unless he can buck his ideas up.

Form: PP5P-7P

Mymilan³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson

80/1

Poor form in point-to-points and did little on Rules debut, beating just the one home and showing little in the way of promise. No realistic chance here.

Form: PP3FP-0

Not The Chablis⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| D

12/1

Has already won a race, that being a bumper for Edward Harty at Down Royal last summer, and has shown a similar level of form to that in two hurdles starts for new yard. Looks sure to pick up some place money if repeating either effort.

Form: 3146

Pogue⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

10/11

Point-to-point winner at Oldcastle last May (form moderate) and ran well for third on hurdles debut at Bangor, weakening late on for third. Drop back to 2m may help, but yard's horses that have run since the flu virus have not really performed.

Form: 213

Oleg⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

11/10

Second in a condiitons hurdle at Pau in December, now with Paul Nicholls and bred ot have plenty of speed about him (related to numerous Flat winners, including two at Group level). Yard have 34% strike rate here and looks the one to beat.

Form: 2

Forecasts

Pogue (10/11), Oleg (11/10), Not The Chablis (12/1), Crumbs (50/1), Mymilan (80/1), Get Help (100/1)

Not the most competitive race to kick off with, and in truth there's some disappointing field sizes given the excellent prize money that the course have put up today. Nevertheless, there's seven winners to be found and OLEG looks like he might be the first of them. Anything Paul Nicholls brings to the track is worth consideration, given 1 in 3 of his charges wins here, and Oleg, who should be a speedy type on paper, could be a cut above these. With the McCain yard yet to get back on track after their flu virus troubles, Not That Chablis might pip Pogue for second. Crumbs is a possible improver.