Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 4m 33.4s

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Selected odds by:

Ferrobin^h1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

8/15

Easily landed novices hurdle at Huntingdon in March and fair second after that at Kempton. Fell last time early on and wears a hood for first time here for last year's winning trainer-jockey. Should go close with clear round..

Form: 2/3212F-

Chef De Troupe²⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P NewlandWS

18/1

Won three on Flat in France at up to 1m4f, all on easy ground. Showed nothing in three starts for current yard last summer and returns for first start following wind surgery. Has something to prove at this level.

Form: P95-

Nessfield Blue³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M D Grant| T: P G Murphy

100/1

Showed very little form in two bumpers for Jose Santos and jumped poorly and always struggling on hurdling bow for current yard here over 2m in March. Faces a very stiff task.

Form: 906-

Smith's Bay⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

15/8

Landed bumper on debut at Taunton in January last year and shaped with a little promise in two starts over timber ata round this trip following a year's absence. Represents top yard and has to be respected.

Form: 15/65-

Easkey Lad¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: Noel Williams| OR: 105

50/1

Ex-Irish modest under both codes and finished tailed off on hurdles bow for current yard at Taunton recently. May be capable of a little better but looks one for handicaps at best.

Form: 8804-

Mega Move^t1¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D SkeltonWS

40/1

Very modest form in three point-to-points but has joined top yard now for her Rules debut. Cost modest £6,500 for new connections and looks very much stable second string. Having first run since recent wind op and wears tongue-tie.

Form: 6F4-

Pepper Street¹³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

33/1

SCored over 1m6f on Flat for Hugo Palmer in August and ran well when third on hurdles bow at Wetherby in November. Disappointing when well beaten on soft ground at Newbury in December and not seen since. Better ground may help cause.

Form: 36-

Forecasts

Ferrobin (8/15), Smith's Bay (15/8), Chef De Troupe (18/1), Pepper Street (33/1), Mega Move (40/1), Easkey Lad (50/1), Nessfield Blue (100/1)

Ferrobin has been consistent and should go clsose with a clear round, but in receipt of 6lb SMITH'S BAY is suggested having hinted there's a race of this nature in him on both recent spins over hurdles. Pepper Street could well be on the premises and probably didn't enjoy soft ground last time. It will be interesting to see if the wind op helps the cause of the so far disappointing Mega Move.