Every Race Live On Racing TV Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 16.9s

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Selected odds by:

Cawthorne Lad¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 120| D

11/2

In cracking form and improving with each of three runs over hurdles. Broke his duck with a decisive success at Catterick (1m7½f, soft) earlier in the month and very much shortlist material again under a penalty.

Form: 231

Coup De Gold²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson

20/1

Maiden on the Flat, but broke his duck immediately on being switched to this code in a Catterick maiden hurdle last month (2m3½f, soft) at 40-1. This is tougher, so he will need significant improvement to follow-up back in trip and under a penalty.

Form: 1

Tavus²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| D

2/1

Triple Flat winner at up to 1m6f for Roger Charlton. Got off to a good start over hurdles when winning a juvenile event at Newcastle (2m, heavy) in November. Not disgraced in a Chepstow Grade 1 latest but this is easier. Claims, despite his penalty.

Form: 16

Burnage Boy⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 107

16/1

Runner-up in two of his three starts over hurdles, including on debut over C&D in October (good to soft). Managed to marginally better that at Catterick when last seen in November. Can't rule out improvement, but will need a fair bit of that to win.

Form: 272

Dark Lochnagar⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

6/4

Dual soft ground Flat winner at up to 1m2½f (stays 1m4½f) and officially rated 88 in that code. In good hands, and sure to be well versed ahead of this hurdles debut. Hasn't yet shown his best when fresh, but nonetheless a very interesting runner.

Form:

Dehradun¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

11/1

Ran once on the Flat for Michael Bell before switching to this trainer, for whom he showed some promise on his hurdles debut at Taunton (2m½f, soft) recently, when 66-1. Should step up on that, but may have to wait for other days.

Form: 5

Gordalan^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 112

18/1

1m6f (soft) Flat winner at Catterick last October (from BHA mark of 52). Placed twice over hurdles, including when 7L behind Cawthorne Lad at Catterick recently. Meets him on 6lb better terms here, but not easy to envisage a reversal of placings.

Form: 373

Showshutai²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Dave Crosse| T: C N Kellett

200/1

Officially rated just 38 on the Flat, where he has yet to make the frame from seven attempts. Likely to find this hurdles debut far too tough.

Form:

Forecasts

Dark Lochnagar (6/4), Tavus (2/1), Cawthorne Lad (11/2), Dehradun (11/1), Burnage Boy (16/1), Gordalan (18/1), Coup De Gold (20/1), Showshutai (200/1)

Trainer Tim Easterby has been quoted as saying that he is aiming to get Cawthorne Lad into the juvenile handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, so he will need another improved effort here and should go close. However, preference is just for the also-penalised TAVUS, who stays well, which could be vital given that the rail movements increase the distance of this by 168 yards, and will find this easier than his most recent, lofty engagement. Dark Lochnagar could be a danger to all if sharp enough on his hurdles debut, after a break, while Coup De Gold and Gordalan are respected.