Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 8.33s

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Selected odds by:

Finisk River²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135

8/1

Promising sort who landed a couple of Cartmel novices by wide margins before shaping best under a double penalty in a better race at Bangor (19.6f). May well do better if the errors can be ironed out.

Form:

Ask For Glory^t²⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| DWS

2/1

Useful bumper winner who confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when routing a thin field by 23 lengths at Wincanton (21.4f) in February. Open to further progress (had wind op ahead of return).

Form:

Does He Know¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 132| D

9/1

Point winner who didn't need to surpass last season's efforts (solid form) to open his account in 7-runner Ludlow novice (21.2f) 16 days ago, well on top finish. Remains open to improvement.

Form:

Midnight River¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

2/1

Placed in a couple of bumpers last season and benefited from the step up in trip when making a successful hurdling bow at Uttoxeter (19.9f) on return. Will stay beyond 2½m and is open to improvement.

Form:

Topofthecotswolds²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

5/1

Much improved over fences last summer, winning 3 on the bounce at Stratford. Opened his account in this sphere when making all at Uttoxeter (19.9f) last month and is likely capable of better again.

Form:

Domaine De L'Isle^t²⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: S Curran| OR: 140| D

25/1

Form:

Non-Runners

Global Fame²²⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Midnight River (2/1), Ask For Glory (2/1), Global Fame (4/1), Topofthecotswolds (5/1), Finisk River (8/1), Does He Know (9/1), Domaine De L'Isle (25/1)

An interesting race and MIDNIGHT RIVER may be the way to go having beaten a subsequent winner a shade cosily in a reasonable time at Uttoxeter earlier this month. He promises to be well suited by this longer trip. Ask For Glory routed a thin field at Wincanton when last seen and is a leading contender now upped in grade, though Topofthecotswolds shouldn't be taken lightly either.