17:12 Warwick

Saturday 8 May 2021

All17:1217:4518:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

racingtv.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:12 | Winning time: 4m 47.91s

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Selected odds by:

Erne River⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 125| D

8/15

7/2, much improved when landing 11-runner novice hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, good) 63 days ago. Open to further improvement, and looks the one to beat.

Form: 321/31-

Opening Bid^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 113

5/1

18/1, won 7-runner novice hurdle at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good) 25 days ago. Progressing well recently, so he can't be dismissed.

Form: 4P551-

Close Friend¹⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

20/1

200/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Market Rasen (20.6f, heavy) 156 days ago on final run for Gary Brown. In excellent hands so may still do better.

Form: P3/9P-

Deeper Blue⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

10/1

Fair form in two bumpers, fifth of 10 at Taunton (16.5f, soft) 65 days ago. Makes hurdles debut and no forlorn hope.

Form: 25-

Gosuatri²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

17/2

Modest hurdler. Sixth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (21f, good, 18/1) 27 days ago, considerately handled. Open to more progress. Market can prove a good indicator.

Form: 1/46-

Moonlight Flit⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

22/1

Has offered little in two bumpers, last of 9 at Newbury (16.3f, good) 63 days ago. Makes hurdles debut with plenty more needed.

Form: 79-

Sinister Minister^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

14/1

Twice-raced maiden. Tongue strap on for 1st time, sixth of 10 in bumper (12/1) at this course (16f, good) 39 days ago. Needs to step forward now going over hurdles.

Form: 46-

Libbdan²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

Modest in bumpers and offered little when remote fourth of 6 in novice at Wincanton (15.3f, good, 50/1) on hurdles bow 20 days ago. Up in trip with work to do.

Form: 28/4-

Forecasts

Erne River (8/15), Opening Bid (5/1), Gosuatri (17/2), Deeper Blue (10/1), Sinister Minister (14/1), Close Friend (20/1), Moonlight Flit (22/1), Libbdan (100/1)

ERNE RIVER sets a good standard on the form of his Doncaster success. and, with more improvement in the pipeline, he is fancied to follow up. Opening Bid looks the one to give Nick Kent's 6-y-o most to do on the back of his recent Newton Abbot success, with Deeper Blue appealing as the pick of the hurdling newcomers.