Won one of these in France (soft) in June and changed hands for €150,000 soon after. Makes debut for this trainer under a penalty, and clearly can't rule him out. Market may help.
Scored on his hurdles debut at Market Rasen (good) in September. Penalised for that. Handles soft on the Flat. Cheekpieces now go on, and they will probably need to help induce improvement in a competitive heat.
Made a good start when scoring on debut in a Ludlow maiden hurdle last month. Jumped well there. Needs some improvement pitched in at this level, but entitled to enter calculations.
Ran well here on the Flat in May, when with Mark Johnston. Arrives having won back-to-back juvenile hurdles for this trainer at Huntingdon and Chepstow, the latter on soft. Looks very much a contender again.
Has a BHA Flat rating of just 49, where he is 1-14, and was well held over C&D in a juvenile hurdle on his debut in this sphere recently. Looks some way short of the form of several others in this.
Beat Maria Magdalena 1¾L when winning at Stratford in July (good), but then finished 3¼L behind her under a penalty next time. Also 1L behind Lady Shanawell when second at Cartmel (good to soft) in August. More needed, judged on recent efforts.
Won a Fontwell juvenile hurdle (good) in September and matched that when 1L second under a penalty at Market Rasen next time. Fell when going well in the lead in the race won by Lady Shanawell here last time. Hood goes on. Player, if over that fall.
Benefited from the fall of Zeb Spirit to win here last time, when she showed a good attitude under pressure. Can't write her off, but more needed at this level.
Completed a cross-code hat-trick in the summer and added a third hurdle win over C&D recently (good to soft), by a comfortable 7L. Enters calculations after that.
Forecasts
Nordano (5/2), Maria Magdalena (7/2), Langer Dan (4/1), Crealion (6/1), Zeb Spirit (8/1), What Will Be (14/1), Lady Shanawell (14/1), Half Bolly (20/1), Uncle Norman (66/1)
Keep an eye on the market with regard to French winner Crealion, while Maria Magdalena and Lady Shanawell both arrive on the back of C&D wins, and the former of that pair is preferred. However, ZEB SPIRIT looked as though he might win Lady Shanawell's race when tipping up and is taken to make amends. Langer Dan and Nordano are both feared.