Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:54 | Winning time: 5m 15.0s

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Selected odds by:

Annual Invictus²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 130| C

4/7

Irish point winner who is progressing well and followed up his Lingfield victory at this track just under 3 weeks ago. Looks sure to be in the mix again up in trip.

Form: 125-211

Albert Hucklebuck⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: C Gordon

28/1

Leading Light gelding who showed plenty to work on when runner-up in a bumper at Fontwell in October, deserving extra credit considering he got racing a fair way out. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 2

Dorking Lad⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| BF

9/4

Placed all 3 starts switched to hurdles this season, improving when second of 9 on handicap debut at Market Rasen (18.6f, soft) 4 days ago, untidy last but sticking to task run-in. Leading player.

Form: 4-332

Henschke¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

150/1

Finished down the field in a Newbury bumper in November and similar story on hurdles bow back there 3 weeks later. Lamentable display when unseating there last month and can only be watched here.

Form: 08U

Itsnotwhatyouthink³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

10/1

Runner-up in a pair of Fontwell bumpers 9 months apart and displayed aptitude for hurdling when third at Lingfield in November. Should build on that with this trip expected to suit.

Form: 2-23

Norley⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Sherwood| BFWS

22/1

Promise when fifth of 16 in a Warwick bumper (2m, soft) on debut in February and shaped as if needing the run when well held on hurdles bow at Fontwell in October. Has had wind op. Should improve.

Form: 5-7

Bunny Boru^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L Hill

50/1

Winning pointer who offered something to work on when 8 lengths second in C&D novice (heavy) on Rules debut in November. Only matched that over C&D next time but looks vulnerable to improvers.

Form: P12/26

Non-Runners

Promising Milan²²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: Nick Mitchell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Annual Invictus (4/7), Dorking Lad (9/4), Itsnotwhatyouthink (10/1), Promising Milan (10/1), Norley (22/1), Albert Hucklebuck (28/1), Bunny Boru (50/1), Henschke (150/1)

Plenty of improvers here, not least ANNUAL INVICTUS, who has progressed well in recent months and can complete the hat-trick under a double penalty with the promise of even better to come up in trip. Dorking Lad looks the chief threat on paper provided this doesn't come too soon just 4 days on from his Market Rasen second, ahead of Itsnotwhatyouthink.