Visit racingtv.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 47.62s

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Blended Stealth^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

80/1

Half-brother to connections' useful chaser Cogry. Unsurprisingly shaped like a stayer in bumpers and has made a low-key start over hurdles.

Form: 778-U5

Drunken Pirate¹⁰⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: M R Bosley| D

16/1

Big chasing type who won Newbury bumper in good style 3 years ago. Much better effort over hurdles when fifth of 18 in novice at Exeter on New Year's Day 2019 but off since (left Noel Williams).

Form: 6105/

First Angel^h¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan

8/1

Ex-pointer who has showed fair form in bumpers and far from disgraced on hurdles bow in warm Wetherby novice back from a break 17 days ago. Can do better.

Form: UP4-26

For Fitz Sake²⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: L Morgan

33/1

Successful on sole outing in points and looked much better than bare result suggests in Catterick bumper in February, pulling hard. Off 9 months. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 16-

Lydford^t1⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| BFWS

4/5

Closely related to Big Orange. Useful winning handicapper on Flat up to 1½m for Roger Varian and had breathing operation since last seen. Type to do well over hurdles for this yard. Tongue strap on.

Form:

Rockingham South¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Chisman

250/1

Well held only run in bumpers and both starts over hurdles 7 months apart, leaving Nigel Twiston-Davies prior to return.

Form: 96-30

Zabeel Champion¹⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill

7/4

Smart handicapper on Flat up to 1½m for Mark Johnston. Sold for185,000 gns in September and looks an exciting recruit to hurdling.

Form:

Non-Runners

Roger Rarebit¹⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: T Lacey J: Stan Sheppard

Forecasts

Lydford (4/5), Zabeel Champion (7/4), First Angel (8/1), Drunken Pirate (16/1), Roger Rarebit (16/1), For Fitz Sake (33/1), Blended Stealth (80/1), Rockingham South (250/1)

This looks a potential match between hurdling-debutants ZABEEL CHAMPION and Lydford, who both showed plenty of ability on the Flat. Zabeel Champion was the higher rated of the 2 (showed smart form) so is preferred.