James And Shona Gourlay Wedding Celebration Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 0.93s

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Selected odds by:

Diligent^h¹⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: K E Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 125| BF

7/2

Winner of 5 of his last 7 chase starts for this yard, and continued the good work back hurdling at Newton Abbot in September. However, turned over when long odds on next time and looks vulnerable following a six-month break.

Form: 121312

Gold In Doha^t¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry

3/1

Showed ability when third in Kempton bumper on debut last season (form has worked out well), and also shaped well on hurdling bow at Fontwell in a first-time tongue strap at Fontwell (17.7f) in November. Open to improvement.

Form: 3-4

Tip Top Tonto¹⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dr R D P Newland

12/1

Signs of promise in a trio of bumpers for two different yards last year, but will need to raise his game on debut for another new stable if he's to make a winning start in this sphere.

Form: 85-6

Inca De Lafayette⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| CD

8/11

French bumper winner who changed hands for €80,000 in November and, despite proving easy to back, had plenty to spare when landing a C&D maiden on British/hurdles debut. Big player with improvement likely.

Form: 8-6411

To Dream^t⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard

150/1

No show in three starts on the Flat and it's been a similar story in as many appearances over hurdles to date. Looks set for another struggle starting out for new yard here.

Form: 00P

Forecasts

Inca De Lafayette (8/11), Gold In Doha (3/1), Diligent (7/2), Tip Top Tonto (12/1), To Dream (150/1)

INCA DE LAFAYETTE did the job well on his hurdles debut for new connections over C&D last month and, with the strong possibility of better to come from this French import, he should prove too good for these rivals. Diligent looks vulnerable conceding weight all round following a six-month absence and Gold In Doha, who made an encouraging start over hurdles at Fontwell, is second choice.