Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 12:18 | Winning time: 5m 13.23s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Redford Road¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 140| C| D

2/1

Followed up a promising effort at Ascot to make it three wins from five career starts last time out over 3m here. Has to concede weight to all back down in trip and class here but respected nonetheless.

Form: 2-1121

Grand Mogul³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

22/1

Bolted up in a bumper at Thurles prior to joining this yard but pulled up on debut for these connections at Newbury. Tough ask on just his second start over hurdles here and Welsh Saint is the yard's first string.

Form: 4/1-P

Imperial Alcazar^t1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131| BF| D

3/1

Showed some promise in a pair of Listed bumpers and off the mark on debut over timber in a maiden hurdle at Aintree in October. Lost little in defeat at Newcastle last time when staying on well; this is tougher however. Wears first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 423-12

Ofalltheginjoints²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 130

9/1

Point-to-point winner who got off the mark on debut under Rules in a novice event at Chepstow. Only narrowly denied by a subsequent winner at Kempton in November but struggled when upped in class at Sandown last time.

Form: PP-1124

Protektorat^h²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 132

15/2

Struggled to land any sort of blow in three starts last season but has shown more in a pair of Sandown runs this term. Will need to step up again to have a say against these rivals but improvement entirely possible.

Form: 2U57-22

Welsh Saint²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

11/4

Handled the testing conditions best in a maiden hurdle at Warwick last time out. His jumping probably needs to improve but he's an exciting prospect for a yard in form; first string.

Form: 421-F21

Result Amended

Imperial Alcazar - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 1st.

Protektorat - Original Position 1st. Amended Position 2nd.

Forecasts

Redford Road (2/1), Welsh Saint (11/4), Imperial Alcazar (3/1), Protektorat (15/2), Ofalltheginjoints (9/1), Grand Mogul (22/1)

A tricky opener to the card but there's a lot to like about the claims of REDFORD ROAD who aims for back-to-back course wins after his Grade 2 success here at the International Meeting. The six-year-old will have to cope with conceding weight to all and a drop back in trip but he's proven at this level and may have too much for these rivals. Wide margin Warwick winner Welsh Saint looks like the main danger for an in form Nicky Henderson while Protektorat appears to be getting the hang of things and could have a say with further improvement.