Nar Valley Bloodhounds Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:10 | Winning time: 5m 34.56s

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Selected odds by:

Ballyvaughan Bay^h1³⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys

5/1

Failed to complete in points either side off finishing ninth of 21 in a Punchestown bumper in April. Could only consider if backed on this hurdle/yard debut.

Form: F9/F-

Bennettsbridge²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy

5/6

Cost £43,000 after finishing placed on both completed starts in Irish points. Sets out over hurdles in a very winnable race and his yard gets lots of winners here.

Form: U23-

Summer Gale¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: C Hobson

40/1

Fair form on the Flat/in bumpers but failed to replicate that form in 2 hurdles for Jessica Harrington in Ireland in the summer. Left that stable after finishing well held back on the Flat in June.

Form: 8/3-56

Swearer³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: J Tickle| D

25/1

Successful in a point in April 2021. Not seen again until fifth in a Ludlow novice claiming hurdle in November 2022 and absent again since.

Form: 61/5-3

West Warhorse²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: B Brookhouse

5/1

Brother to useful hurdler/very smart chaser Western Warhorse. Some promise in bumpers but could only manage seventh of 10 on last month's Huntingdon hurdle debut.

Form: 76-87

Little Talks^t1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King

80/1

Runner-up only start in Irish points but no promise in 2 novice hurdles for new yard.

Form: 2P5

September Power¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: M Wigham

4/1

Fairly useful Flat performer at up to 2m. Well beaten over C&D on hurdle debut back in February 2022 but has been better than ever on the Flat this year and she ought to be up to making an impact in a race like this over hurdles.

Form: 6/

Forecasts

Bennettsbridge (5/6), September Power (4/1), West Warhorse (5/1), Ballyvaughan Bay (5/1), Swearer (25/1), Summer Gale (40/1), Little Talks (80/1)

Olly Murphy Irish point recruit BENNETTSBRIDGE is taken to make a winning start over hurdles, with confidence in his chance increased should the betting vibes be strong. Although September Power failed to figure on her C&D hurdle debut just under 2 years ago her fairly useful Flat form suggests she should be capable of better in this sphere and she's second choice.