Friars Walk Newport 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 7.6s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Friend Or Foe³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| BF| D

1/25

Twice raced in France before joining this top yard and making all in a Taunton contest in December. Travelled well next in a warmer contest at Newbury (2m3f) but found nil and faded into 10th of 14. Still however has leading claims here.

Form: 4410

Tilson^b1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn

10/1

Completed once in point-to-points (remote third) but pulled-up the last time he was seen in that sphere (last month). Remote eighth of 11 at Exeter three weeks ago and despite change of headgear he is expected to struggle again.

Form: P3/P8

Non-Runners

Peppay Le Pugh²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: D Skelton J: William Marshall

Forecasts

Friend Or Foe (1/25), Peppay Le Pugh (4/6), Tilson (10/1)

Unexposed FRIEND OR FOE is rated 1lb better than Peppay Le Pugh who he receives 5lb from today and the Ditcheat novice is likely open to further improvement so ought to take this opportunity really. Dan Skelton's dual-purpose eight-year-old will make sure there is no hiding place and certainly will finish well ahead of Tilson on what we saw from the latter at Exeter.