Watch Racing TV Now Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 29.9s

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Selected odds by:

Arcanja⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley

100/1

Makes some appeal as a jumper on paper, pulled up in first-time hood (off here) in a bumper at Sedgefield in January having gone off a 100-1 chance; hurdles debut and can only be watched for now.

Form: 6-P

Cockle Bay^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

25/1

Joined this trainer after winning a point-to-point (fifth attempt, first completion) in March 2017 but didn't see the racecourse until 2m soft-ground Kelso novice hurdle in January, where he was pulled up. Plenty to work on.

Form: PPBP1/9

Cracking Destiny³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans| OR: 125

6/5

Three-time winner over fences from nine starts, two of them for Ian Williams; runner-up behind Arkle entry Greaneteen at Musselburgh in Scottish Champion Chase last month; should take some halting if transferring that form to hurdles.

Form: 143-122

Elusive Red¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh

80/1

Made the frame in a 2m1f soft-ground bumper here in November but pair of wide-margin defeats at big prices since going hurdling and seemingly facing another thankless task now.

Form: 63900

Ibn Al Emarat¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: F P Murtagh

66/1

Won on the Flat for David Simcock at Goodwood (1m, good) in August 2017; missed 857 days prior to pair of low-key hurdles runs at Catterick and here this year and again well held in Newcastle AW bumper (150-1) latest; opposed.

Form: 908

Mint Condition¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: J Candlish| OR: 115

6/5

Promising debut in a Warwick bumper in the autumn and fair start over hurdles when fourth behind Supreme favourite Shishkin at Newbury in January; another sound run since at Warwick (2m3f, heavy); can give Cracking Destiny something to think about.

Form: 4-344

Shaws Bridge^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish

4/1

Unable to justify market prominence in Sedgefield maiden hurdle in December for Gordon Elliott; close third in Newcastle AW bumper last month on debut for this trainer and interesting to see if that can be built upon; place claims if so.

Form: 364-343

African Glory⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: R D Day| T: M Todhunter

80/1

£14,000 3yo; 7th foal; half-sister to 2m hurdle/chase winner Cheap As Chips & 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Ros Brin; dam unraced half-sister to 2m6f chase winner Amy's Song; well held in all three point-to-point starts.

Form: PF5

Forecasts

Cracking Destiny (6/5), Mint Condition (6/5), Shaws Bridge (4/1), Cockle Bay (25/1), Ibn Al Emarat (66/1), African Glory (80/1), Elusive Red (80/1), Arcanja (100/1)

CRACKING DESTINY has been in excellent form this season over fences, with his last-time-out second behind Greaneteen in the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh looking particularly good. If he can translate that form to hurdles, he'll take some halting now. Mint Condition is on the improve and represents the key danger with Shaws Bridge best-placed to take minor money.