Catesby Estates Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 4m 0.41s

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Selected odds by:

Art Approval⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

9/1

Fair ex-French maiden on Flat. 5/2, promising first run for new yard when second of 5 in novice hurdle at Market Rasen (20.6f, good) 68 days ago. Should progress but he needs to here.

Form: 2

Faivoir¹⁹

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

4/11

Dual bumper winner before encouraging second of 11 in novice at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 19 days ago, travelling strongly long way. Winner has gone in again since so in the mix.

Form: 1211-2

Lessankan³²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

16/1

Samum gelding. Half-brother to useful 7f-9f winner Lijian. Unplaced in Irish point but yard always to be highly respected here so worth monitoring in the betting.

Form: 7-

Presentandcounting^h1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| D

9/2

Landed Newcastle bumper in February before (3/1) showing up well on hurdling bow when second of 10 in novice at Bangor (16.7f, soft) 23 days ago. Hood on now and sure to do better so considered.

Form: 31/31-2

Temur Khan³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll

150/1

Fair 12f Flat winner who (28/1) hinted at promise when sixth of 10 in novice hurdle (28/1) at Warwick (16f, good) on NH debut 31 days ago. This demands a lot more though.

Form: 6

Found On^h⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: M Keighley

40/1

Hooded when second of 8 in bumper at Stratford (16.3f, heavy, 9/1) on NH debut 65 days ago. Makes hurdles debut now but this is a tough introduction.

Form: 5/1-2

Non-Runners

Champagnesuperover²⁵⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: O Murphy J: Adrian Heskin

Pipesmoker²⁵¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Faivoir (4/11), Pipesmoker (5/4), Champagnesuperover (9/4), Presentandcounting (9/2), Art Approval (9/1), Lessankan (16/1), Found On (40/1), Temur Khan (150/1)

Some promising sorts on show but PIPESMOKER sets the bar high and is taken to open his account after fine placed efforts here and at Ascot last season. Presentandcounting also has much better days ahead of him so is fancied to chase home Nicky Henderson's useful prospect, while exciting bumper winner Champagnesuperover is much respected on his hurdling bow.