Ayrshire Hospice, Building The Future Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 6m 2.07s

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Selected odds by:

City Chief²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 127| D

11/8

Successful pointer who didn't need to improve to get off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt in a 4-runner maiden at Hereford (25.5f) 20 days ago, travelling/jumping fluently in lead. Into handicaps now and remains open to improvement.

Form: 1221

Shearer^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127

11/2

Improved in first-time cheekpieces when off the mark in a 9-runner handicap (3/1) at Newbury (20.5f, soft) 28 days ago, battling well. Nudged up 7 lb but can give another good account.

Form: 10-2321

Donna's Double²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 119

25/1

Newcastle bumper who added to his tally when a fortunate winner of a 16.2 novice there in early February. Better effort when second to Hidden Heroics up in trip next time but opening mark could have been kinder.

Form: 1-812

Half Track³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N W Alexander| OR: 115| BF| C

11/4

Took another step forward to open his account in a 21f novice here in December, battling well. Failed to improve when third in his first handicap at Doncaster since, but it remains early days, so could yet resume progress.

Form: 5-4313

Hidden Heroics²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 115| D

17/2

Point winner who got off the mark over hurdles following a breathing operation at Newcastle (20.3f) last month, driven out. More needed now handicapping, but he's still lightly raced and is bred to stay this longer trip.

Form: 1-431

Starlyte^p,t¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98

17/2

Fair bumper winner who came good over hurdles in 9-runner novice handicap at Southwell (20.4f) 11 days ago, readily. This is a much better race but she has to be respected under a penalty.

Form: 003481

Forecasts

City Chief (11/8), Half Track (11/4), Shearer (11/2), Hidden Heroics (17/2), Starlyte (17/2), Donna's Double (25/1)

CITY CHIEF made the most of a good opportunity at Hereford, but it was hard not to be impressed with the way he jumped and travelled, so he gets the vote to follow up on handicap debut. Shearer and Half Track are feared most in that order.