Virgin Bet Fives Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 8.13s

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Selected odds by:

Zacony Rebel²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 127

8/1

Winner of novice events either side of finishing second in a Huntingdon handicap in January. Conditions here will be more suitable than at Ascot last time, but this looks tough under a double penalty.

Form: 7/5-121P

Earth Lord^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132| BF| D

5/6

Winner of first 2 starts this season and, having struggled in the C&D Lanzarote in January, he got back on track when hitting the crossbar in a 3-runner Warwick (21f) novice last time. Obvious claims.

Form: 32-1172

Latitude⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| D

10/3

Point/bumper winner who made the perfect start over hurdles when seeing off a next-time-out scorer at Ludlow (21.2f). More on his plate now, but he's unexposed and improvement should be forthcoming.

Form: 13-151

Balkeo^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 120

4/1

Fairly useful form when runner-up twice over 2¼m at Auteuil last spring. Ultimately well held back from 9 months off/wind op when third on British debut at Sandown, but he should be sharper now.

Form: 32-23

Non-Runners

Chavez⁴⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Earth Lord (5/6), Latitude (10/3), Balkeo (4/1), Chavez (6/1), Zacony Rebel (8/1)

This is a significantly better race than the maiden LATITUDE won on his hurdles debut at Ludlow, but there was much to like about that performance (travelled strongly and quickened well) and his speed could again prove decisive kept to a sharp, right-hand track. Earth Lord sets the standard on form and is clear second choice ahead of French-import Balkeo.