ABP Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 55.7s

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Selected odds by:

Give Me A Cuddle³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King

4/5

Off the mark at third attempt in bumpers and relished step up to 2¾m when making a winning hurdles debut at Stratford last month. Likely there's more to come from this 6-y-o and he's the one to beat.

Form: 621-1

Licklighter^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 115

8/1

Four-time winner over fences, the latest a Perth handicap last June. 0-22 in this sphere, but has hit the crossbar on no less than eight occasions over hurdles and should come on for last month's reappearance spin at Cartmel.

Form: 12134-5

Perryville²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 109

9/2

Went close on the second of his two starts in maiden hurdles in Ireland and positive start for new yard when third at Hereford (21.7f) in January. However, has failed to build on that subsequently and likely to again find one or two too good.

Form: 8235-4

The Bold Thady²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

10/3

Beaten fair way sole bumper start, but has since performed with credit in a couple of maiden hurdles at Huntingdon, latterly when second upped to 25f in a five-runner maiden. Ought to pick up a race or two in due course.

Form: 4-32

Time To Believe²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

66/1

Mere glimmers of ability on debut for Fergal O'Brien last summer and never competitive on debut for new yard back from 11 months off in a 2m Warwick bumper. Big step forward needed now upped in trip for this hurdles bow.

Form: 5-4

Forecasts

Give Me A Cuddle (4/5), The Bold Thady (10/3), Perryville (9/2), Licklighter (8/1), Time To Believe (66/1)

The stoutly-bred GIVE ME A CUDDLE duly benefited from the step up to 2¾m when making a successful start over hurdles at Stratford, form which was boosted when the second scored in good style next time out. Neil King's charge is open to progress and looks more than capable of defying a penalty in a race of this nature. Licklighter has already finished runner-up eight times over hurdles and may well do so again, while The Bold Thady is best of the rest.