Matchbook 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 52.2s

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Selected odds by:

Domaine De L'Isle⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: S Curran

11/1

Fair form over obstacles in France (dual chase winner on good ground) although all his form including the two wins are at shorter than he tries here. Market may tell the story of his expectations on GB/stable debut as he reverts to hurdles.

Form: 11P5P4-

Fontley House^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: C Gethings| T: T R George

11/10

A recent wind op appeared to be the catalyst for a better display last time out at Ludlow (2m5f, good/firm) finishing third in a first-time tongue-tie. Travelled well through the race and saw out the trip; better expected and looks back on track.

Form: 3/8P3-

No Hidden Charges²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| D

5/2

Dual Irish winning point-to pointer on good ground (took him a while to get off the mark). Shaped well on both starts (had tack problems first time) the first over 2m7f before showing surprisingly well over 2m last time; more to come back at 3m.

Form: 241144-

Pepperdew^p1⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling

10/1

Has quite a taking Flat pedigree (ex-Godolphin; never ran on the level) but has been well held in a bumper and two novice hurdles so far. Upgraded in terms of stable now (first run for new yard) but still has plenty to prove on the evidence so far.

Form: 046-

Slaine²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: N B King

5/1

Showed very little in her early bumper/hurdles runs (fell on hurdles debut) before finally leaving her initial efforts behind last time stepped up in trip and jumping far better. Takes another big step up in trip (2m3f last time); open to progress.

Form: 30/4F83-

Forecasts

Fontley House (11/10), No Hidden Charges (5/2), Slaine (5/1), Pepperdew (10/1), Domaine De L'Isle (11/1)

The promise that FONTLEY HOUSE showed in his Punchestown bumper when trained in Ireland finally looked to come to the fore last time with a tongue-tie (first-time) and a wind op helping him to see his race out properly at Ludlow. A further step up in trip looks within his compass although he will face a tough battle against Irish point-to-point winner No Hidden Charges who has shown promise in both his hurdles starts and despite running well at 2m last time this is much more his trip. Ex-French Domaine De L’Isle has some useful form in France and looks interesting on his GB debut while Slaine can take another step forward before going handicapping.