Phoenix Eye Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 59.6s

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Selected odds by:

Enfin Phil²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 118

7/2

Won on very soft ground in France (2m2f) last September. Showed ability at Wetherby on penultimate start, but below that level at Catterick last time. Probably more to come over this trip, but needs to prove that.

Form: 341634

Whoshotthesheriff⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 130

4/6

Made an immediate impact over hurdles when scoring at Ayr (2m, soft) in January, when with Gordon Elliott. Bettered that at Navan in one more run for him, and now makes debut for a trainer enjoying a good season. Looks the one to beat.

Form: 30-2312

Elixer⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: F P Murtagh

66/1

0-9 in Irish points, being third in his two most recent runs. Can only watch in this field on his hurdles debut.

Form: PF-B833

Iwasthefutureonce¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 111

7/2

Won a point on his third start (good) last April. Has shown some promise on a couple of occasions over similar trips on soft ground as a hurdler. Not ruled out, but more needed than when last seen at Carlisle.

Form: 1944P3

Devito'sredrobin⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: D McCain Jnr

33/1

Irish point winner on her third start a year ago. Unable to show much better in three rules starts so far for this trainer. Can only watch at present.

Form: U21-065

Molly Whuppie^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: T J FitzGerald

66/1

Well held third on bumpers here and at Catterick this year. Needs significant improvement on that on her hurdles debut.

Form: 633

Our Cilla¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: J Kington| T: A Crook

125/1

Dual 1m6f Lingfield winner on the Flat, both with cut in the ground. Not devoid of promise on stable debut over hurdles two starts ago, but well held last month. Much more needed.

Form: 40

Forecasts

Whoshotthesheriff (4/6), Enfin Phil (7/2), Iwasthefutureonce (7/2), Devito'sredrobin (33/1), Molly Whuppie (66/1), Elixer (66/1), Our Cilla (125/1)

A weak contest can go to WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF, who is on the rise in this discipline and can make a winning stable debut. Enfin Phil looks a potential danger, but is probably more one to consider in handicaps, while Iwasthefutureonce looks next best.