Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:13 | Winning time: 3m 59.35s

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Selected odds by:

Carnfunnock²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| CD

1/5

Course bumper winner who put his greater experience to good use to see off a well-touted newcomer to Rules at Down Royal (16.9f) 25 days ago. Has leading claims on hurdle debut.

Form: 3/138-1

Kauto Of Gold³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: Paul Robson

66/1

Well held both starts to date.

Form: 57

Maughold Head³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards

15/2

Fame And Glory gelding who showed plenty of ability in a Kelso bumper on debut, despite looking a handful. Went backwards next time but showed a better attitude switched to hurdling when second in 9-runner C&D novice 36 days ago, albeit no match for winner. Should do better.

Form: 5-82

One Mill Harbour^t1

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V RussellWS

10/1

€42,000 3-y-o, Diamond Boy gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including fair French hurdler Nina de L'Orme. Dam 1m winner in France. Wears tongue strap for debut and has already had a breathing operation.

Form:

Paramaribo¹⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine

18/1

Dam half-sister to useful hurdler (2m winner) Gardens of Babylon. Fair maiden on Flat, stays 12.5f, mid-field in apprentices handicap last time. Worth a look on hurdles debut.

Form:

Maimie's Magic⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr Stephen Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 85

125/1

Well held in a trio of maiden hurdles.

Form: 900

Non-Runners

Kondo Isami³⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: R M Smith J: William Shanahan

Forecasts

Carnfunnock (1/5), Maughold Head (15/2), One Mill Harbour (10/1), Paramaribo (18/1), Kondo Isami (20/1), Kauto Of Gold (66/1), Maimie's Magic (125/1)

The vote goes to dual-bumper winner CARNFUNNOCK, who looks to have been found a good opportunity on his hurdling debut. Maughold Head showed a better attitude sent hurdling when second over C&D last month and is entitled to improve, while Paramaribo, a fair maiden on the Flat, may prove best of the rest.